Third game, third victory!
Austria struggles in front of a sold-out house in Linz against cyprus for a narrow 1-0 home win (for the game report >>>).
But even if the result is correct,the performance against number 128 in the world was anything but good. Especially in the game forward, the ÖFB team showed up without ideas and so in the end a penalty had to be used.
Eirala1 Analyzes the performance of all ÖFB actors and distributes grades (1 = very good, 2 = good, 3 = satisfactory, 4 = sufficient, 5 = not sufficient, “-” = too short).
These are the grades for the ÖFB kickers:
Alexander Schlager
90 minutes
The Salzburg keeper had little to do over the entire season.But when it was needed, he was there. In the 23rd minute he saved the ÖFB team twice within a few seconds with strong parades before the deficit. in the final phase, he also demonstrated his qualities as a gardener. There, however, he does not cut off quite as well.
Konrad Laimer
90 minutes
Laimer, as with FC Bayern, ran for the first time as a right -back. The 28-year-old always showed good offensive urge in his 50th international, but he couldn’t create opportunities either. In addition, he once failed miserably in a promising position. After the substitution of Stefan Posch, he then moved into midfield to his traditional position.
Philipp Lienhart
90 minutes
The Freiburg legionnaire made a solid impression as the next man of David Alaba and was always there when he was needed. Lienhart won almost all of his duels and was also in the surf with eight clarification actions of the rock. A solid appearance from the 29-year-old.
David praises
up to minute 70
The captain played as if he had never been gone. A weapon on the ball, always with strong passes between the chains. Extremely crucial for the building game. Interpreted his role very aggressively and often showed himself as a flankener on the left. He also had his feet in the game with the goal, and the foul initiated to Baumgartner with a wonderful ball. Got his worthy applause after 70 minutes.
Phillipp Mwene
90 minutes
Not a especially good appearance from the left -back. As usual, Mwene was traveling a lot, but he did not cause danger on the offensive. Also defensive not quite as saddle festival as normally.
NICOLAS SEIWALD
90 minutes
The long -running favorite under team boss Ralf Rangnick did not get his best day. Seiwald repeatedly scattered slight mistakes and was too easy to cover up in midfield. Many simple ball losses and a weak duel rate are rather atypical for him.
Xaver Schlager
up to minute 70
The comebacker took a few minutes to get in the game, but was all the stronger. Clearly the best midfielder in the ÖFB team today. Again and again with clever balls and a very good overview in the center. Similar to Alaba,he was still missing the strength for 90 minutes,will be asked against Bosnia again on Tuesday.
PATRICK WIMMER
Up to minute 45
Not an easy game for the Wolfsburg legionnaire. Unlike in the first two qualifying games, Wimmer was allowed to play again in his traditional position in the right midfield.However, he was rarely able to ensure that he was defensive, he was on the spot again and again. Had to give way to Romano Schmid for the break.
Christoph Baumgartner
Up to minute 90+5
Especially in the initial phase, Baumgartner was relatively little to see.Cyprus made the rooms in which he likes to move. With continued time, however, he fought himself into the game and ended up taking out the all -important penalty. Always go where it hurts and is therefore extremely important for the game.
MARCEL SABITZER
90 minutes
Tore: 1
The Dortmund legionnaire shot Austria in its 90th international game for 1-0 home win. Sabitzer showed himself confidently from the point, but or else his performance was rather mixed.The 30-year-old had a lot of ball contacts,made life difficult with simple stoppfing or inaccurate flanks.
MARKO ARNAUTOVIC
Up to minute 45
Austria’s Substitutes Struggle to ignite Offense Against Cyprus
September 7, 2025
In a recent international friendly against Cyprus, Austria’s substitutes, Michael Gregoritsch and Romano Schmid, failed to make a significant impact, leaving fans and analysts questioning the team’s depth and offensive strategy.
Michael Gregoritsch: A Half to Forget
Michael Gregoritsch, brought on at halftime to replace a struggling Marko Arnautovic, had a performance that can only be described as underwhelming. With just ten touches and a single shot on goal, Gregoritsch looked out of sync with the Austrian attack. His limited impact led to his early substitution.
While Gregoritsch did make a crucial goal-line clearance on a corner kick in the 69th minute, preventing a potential Cyprus goal, his offensive contribution was minimal. This defensive play, while important, doesn’t overshadow his struggles to generate scoring opportunities.
Some might argue that Gregoritsch wasn’t given enough time to settle into the game. However, in international soccer, opportunities are often fleeting, and players are expected to make an immediate impact. as legendary Green Bay Packers coach vince Lombardi famously said, Success demands singleness of purpose.
Gregoritsch’s performance lacked that decisive edge.
Romano schmid: Inconspicuous Performance
Romano Schmid, who replaced Patrick Wimmer at halftime, also struggled to find his footing. The Werder Bremen midfielder managed only 25 touches and,like Gregoritsch,found it difficult to break down the Cypriot defence.
Schmid’s performance was largely inconspicuous, failing to create any significant scoring chances.Against a deep-lying Cyprus team, creativity and incisiveness in midfield are crucial, and Schmid was unable to provide that spark.
Critics might point to the difficulty of playing against a defensively organized team like Cyprus. However,top players are expected to find ways to influence the game,irrespective of the opposition’s tactics. Think of Tom Brady’s ability to dissect defenses, or LeBron James’ court vision – elite players find solutions. Schmid, sadly, did not.
Looking Ahead: Austria’s Depth Concerns
The performances of Gregoritsch and Schmid raise concerns about Austria’s squad depth. If key players like Arnautovic and wimmer are struggling or unavailable, the team needs reliable options off the bench. this game suggests that Austria may need to explore other options or find ways to better integrate these players into the team’s system.
Further investigation is needed to determine the underlying causes of these players’ struggles. Are they lacking confidence? Is the tactical system not suited to their strengths? Or is it simply a case of a bad day at the office? Whatever the reason, Austria’s coaching staff needs to find answers quickly if they wont to compete at the highest level.
One potential area for further investigation is the team’s training methods. Are the players being adequately prepared for the physical and mental demands of international soccer? Are they being given the tools they need to succeed against different types of opposition?
Ultimately, the success of any team depends on its ability to adapt and overcome challenges. Austria’s performance against cyprus highlights the need for greater depth and tactical versatility. Only time will tell if they can address these issues and achieve their goals on the international stage.
kevin Danso
ab Minute 70
The central defender replaced the strong David Alaba.A solid appearance without great highlights. strong in duels, not all passes were sitting with the ball.
Stefan Posch
ab Minute 70
Cards: yellow
The Italy-legionnaire replaced Xaver Schlager for the last almost 25 minutes. Posch was easy to notice the lack of game practice, he definately had stronger appearances for the ÖFB team.
FLORIAN GRILLITSCH
ab Minute 90+5
Used too short for a grading.
The 25 players with the most international matches for Austria
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