Austria defender Stefan Lienhart wants a clean sheet when his side faces Ireland in Linz on Saturday.
The Austrian national team heads into the upcoming fixture on a wave of enthusiasm in their adopted home. Kickoff at the stadium is set for 20:45 local time, with live coverage and updates provided by Ligaportal.
“Im Idealfall zu null,”
A victory on Saturday would secure first place in Group 3 of UEFA Nations League B and confirm promotion to League A. Head coach Ralf Rangnick leads a squad that currently sits atop the group standings with eight points from four matches.
Austria holds an eight-point total ahead of Kosovo and Ireland, who both sit on five points. The campaign so far includes victories over Israel and Kosovo alongside draws away to Ireland and Kosovo. Securing the group win this weekend would avoid a tense finish during the final round of fixtures.
A defeat on Saturday, however, could leave Austria, Ireland, and Kosovo level on points ahead of the final matchday.
Moving up to League A changes a club's strategy beyond receiving higher financial distributions from UEFA. The top tier guarantees regular fixtures against Europe’s elite national teams, which serves as a vital benchmark for a squad that advanced past the group stage at both the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.
The national team has found a reliable home in Linz since the venue opened in February 2023. Across seven international matches in the Stahlstadt, Austria remains undefeated with six wins and a single draw.
Local enthusiasm remains high following a successful domestic season for LASK, which won the Austrian double earlier in the year. The national side has similarly embraced the atmosphere created by local supporters during European fixtures.
Saturday’s match marks the latest test for Rangnick’s team as they attempt to translate their strong regional form into a historic promotion to the top tier of European international football.
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