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Scotland won 1-0 in Vienna in September and that was their first competitive away win against a side ranked above them since June 2013. Austria have only won one of their last nine meetings with the Dark Blues, a 2-0 friendly victory at Hampden in 2003.
Over 2.5 goals is 1/1.
Scotland to win and over 2.5 goals is 11/2.
Match preview
These two nations could’ve been meeting at Ernst-Happel-Stadion for a winner takes all World Cup play-off but, for varying reasons, that is not the case.
Scotland’s semi-final tie with Ukraine has, understandably, been postponed until June while Austria were in qualification action last Thursday.
Franco Foda’s side travelled to the Cardiff City Stadium and almost made the perfect start when Christoph Baumgartner hit the crossbar.
Das Team did get back into it when Marcel Sabitzer’s shot deflected in, but they couldn’t find an equaliser with Wales advancing to the final.
This means Austria have now failed to qualify for all six World Cups this century and pressure continues to mount on unpopular coach Foda.
Scotland meanwhile, given that their own Path A semi-final was postponed, took on Poland in a hastily arranged friendly at Hampden.
The Tartan Army went into the game having won six games in a row, their best run since 2007, form which saw them pip Austria to second in the group.
Steve Clarke’s side looked set to win again when Kieran Tierney headed home his first international goal, thanks to John McGinn’s superb delivery.
However, with the very last action of the night, Craig Gordon conceded a penalty with Poland snatching an equaliser.
Thankfully for Scotland fans, this dramatic conclusion came in an inconsequential friendly, not a do or die knockout qualifier.
Scotland’s World Cup dreams remain on hold until June, so here they return to Vienna, the scene of an iconic win from 2021, for a friendly.
Who will get back to winning ways?
Austria team news
Saša Kalajdžić scored a brace at Hampden 12 months and four days ago, but was surprisingly left on the bench for Thursday’s qualifier in Wales.
However, he could start here, in place of Marko Arnautović who looked disinterested for large spells of the defeat in Cardiff.
Elsewhere, numerous key players have pulled out of the squad since that defeat.
They include talisman David Alaba as well as Christopher Trimmel, Xaver Schlager, Florian Grillitsch and others.
Crvena zvezda defender Aleksandar Dragović is expected to star though, winning his 100th international cap.
Heinz Lindner could continue in goal, ahead of Daniel Bachmann who’s been struggling for minutes at Watford this season.
Scotland team news
The Poland game was particularly memorable for full-backs Kieran Tierney, who scored his first Scotland goal, and Aaron Hickey who came off the bench to win his first cap.
The latter, who’s played the most minutes of any teenager in Europe’s top-five ranked leagues this season, could be handed a start here.
If 39 year old goalkeeper Craig Gordon keeps his place, he’ll win his 66th cap, moving clear of Willie Miller into tenth in the all-time records.
Captain Andy Robertson and Lyndon Dykes missed Thursday’s game with Covid-19, but should be available again for this one.
Nathan Paterson and Billy Gilmour are struggling for minutes at Everton and Norwich respectively so will be desperate for another start in this one.
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