Austria will take on Brazil on Sunday at Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna. Brazil is the very clear favourite this time and will be a force to reckon with while Austria will have to work hard to stop Brazil.
Form
Austria after a dismal qualifying campaign has risen from the ruins. They are currently boasting a 7 match winning streak with 3 of their last 5 victims will be travelling to Russia. They stunned Germany in their last match coming back from behind and making Manuel Neuer’s comeback after 9 months a sour one.
However, Brazil is one of the favourites to hold the World Cup after enjoying a marvellous qualifier campaign, losing just once to Chile and being the first team to confirm their tickets to Russia. Even after the qualifiers, Brazil has won 4 out of their 5 and drawing the remaining.
Squad Strength
Brazil has best players in every position with players like Roberto Firmino being the second choice striker as Tite prefers Gabriel Jesus to lead the Brazilian attack. Although Brazil was handed a slight backlash as Dani Alves, arguably the best right-back in the world couldn’t join the squad due to injury, they have a good backup in form of Danilo.
Neymar, coming back from an injury, showed no signs of any rustiness as he scored a wonderful solo goal against Croatia. Fred and Renato Augusto are in doubt for this match due to minor injuries.
Franco Foda has made a considerable amount of changes in Austrian squad with 4 uncapped players hoping to make their debut. Marcel Sabitzer, Valentino Lazaro, Michael Gregoritsch, Maximilian Wober and Marc Janko are the starters which will be making way for the debutants as they are ruled out due to injury.
Predictions
Austria will step on the field with a lot of optimism and a hope to halt the Brazilian Rhapsody. They have just conceded two goals in their last 6 matches and will be confident to avoid a heavy defeat. On the other hand, Brazil will be looking to make a strong point before the World Cup and they have the strength to rip any defence apart.
Austria 1-3 Brazil
LeoVegas offers the following odds to the game. Even though Brazil is quite a safe choice, betting on it will have a pretty good outcome.
Austria 6.50
Even 4.20
Brazil 1.52
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