' TONIGHTS WELSH TEAM: AUSTRIA v WALES' UPDATED DAILY

AUSTRIA V WALES
World Cup Qualifier
Thursday, 6 October
7.45pm BST
Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna

OVER 4,000 WELSH FANS HAVE TRAVELLED

TEAM NEWS


Wales: Hennessey; Taylor, Davies, Williams, Chester, Gunter; Ledley, Allen, King; Bale, Vokes.

Subs: Fon Williams, Davies, Collins, Dummett, Huws, Edwards, MacDonald, Crofts, Robson-Kanu, Bradshaw, Cotterill, Lawrence.



To win
The bookies have Austria the narrowest of favourites for this one, despite the fact that they have won one match in their last five – and that a stumbling success in Georgia in the opening group clash.

Odds: 6/5 Austria, 9/5 Wales, 11/5 draw.

Bet: As the outsider of the three, the draw looks appealing at 11/5.






Latest News

Wales will be taking 4000+ fans away to Austria.

Jonny Wiliams and Aaron Ramsey aren't named in the squad as they still recover from injuries.

Austria winger Martin Harnik will miss Thursday's World Cuo qualifier against Wales in Vienna because of a calf injury.


The Squads

Wales

Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Owain Fon Williams.

Defenders: Ben Davies, James Chester, James Collins, Paul Dummett, Chris Gunter, Jazz Richards, Neil Taylor, Ashley Williams.

Midfielders: Joe Allen, David Edwards, Emyr Huws, Andy King, Tom Lawrence, Joe Ledley, Shaun MacDonald.

Attackers: Gareth Bale, Simon Church, David Cotterill, Hal Robson-Kanu, Sam Vokes.


Austria

Goalkeepers: Robert Almer (Austria Vienna), Andreas Lukse (Altach), Ramazan Oezcan (Bayer Leverkusen)

Defenders: Aleksandar Dragovic (Bayer Leverkusen), Martin Hinteregger (Augsburg), Florian Klein (Stuttgart), Valentino Lazaro (Salzburg), Sebastian Proedl (Watford), Stefan Stangl (Salzburg), Markus Suttner (Ingolstadt), Kevin Wimmer (Tottenham)

Midfielders: David Alaba (Bayern Munich), Marko Arnautovic (Stoke), Julian Baumgartlinger (Bayer Leverkusen), Martin Harnik (Hannover), Stefan Ilsanker (Leipzig), Zlatko Junuzovic (Werder Bremen), Marcel Sabitzer (Leipzig), Louis Schaub (Rapid Vienna), Alessandro Schoepf (Schalke)

Forwards: Michael Gregoritsch (Hamburg), Lukas Hinterseer (Ingolstadt), Marc Janko (FC Basel)


Austria



FIFA World Cup™ finals history
Austria’s most successful period at the FIFA World Cup was a long time ago. The Alpine nation finished fourth at the 1934 finals in Italy, and produced their best ever campaign in Switzerland 20 years later by winning the bronze medal. However, in their five appearances at subsequent editions they were unable to finish higher than seventh, achieved at Argentina 1978. Austria failed to advance beyond the group stage at France 1998 and have since missed out on qualifying for the last four World Cups.

The team
The majority of Austria’s players ply their trade in Europe’s top leagues, especially in the neighbouring German Bundesliga, where many of them are integral members of their clubs’ starting line-ups. The experience gained abroad has benefitted the national team, which coach Marcel Koller has forged into a compact and tactically adept ensemble from a group of technically gifted individuals such as David Alaba, Zlatko Junuzovic and Marko Arnautovic. Alaba is Austrian football’s poster boy and the defensive midfielder has emerged as one of the pillars of the team; he is already one of the most experienced members, despite his young age.

The coach
Marcel Koller took over at the helm in November 2011. It is his first role as a national team coach, having previously had spells in charge of Grasshoppers Zurich, Cologne and Bochum, among others.

The stat
11 – Four players share the national record of appearing in 11 World Cup matches. Herbert Prohaska, Bruno Pezzey, Erich Obermayer and Friedl Koncili all participated at the 1978 and 1982 tournaments, recording five wins, five defeats and a draw.

The former stars
Toni Polster, Herbert Prohaska, Andreas Herzog, Ernst Happel, Josef Hickersberger, Kurt Jara, Johann Krankl


Wales



FIFA World Cup finals history
Wales have only appeared at the finals once, in 1958 when they were led by the great John Charles. They reached the quarter-finals after a 2-1 win over returning runners-up Hungary, with a solitary Pele goal then sending them home. They have struggled in qualifying since, coming close in bids to reach 1982 and 1986 but lost out to Czechoslovakia and Scotland respectively on goal difference.

The team
Not lacking in individual talent, The Dragons are blessed with the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, while Joe Ledley and Joe Allen help make up a dynamic midfield. Behind them, the likes of English Premier League regulars Ben Davies, James Collins and captain Ashley Williams feature in a solid backline.

The coach
Though still a manager in the early stages of his coaching career, aged 44, Chris Coleman already has 12 years’ experience in the hot seat. Since taking charge of the nation he represented 36 times as a player in 2012, there have been promising signs that they could make their return to the World Cup.

The stat
35 – The number of days after Gareth Bale's 17th birthday when he became Wales' youngest-ever goal-scorer.

The former stars
John Charles, Ian Rush, Gary Speed, Ryan Giggs, Ivor Allchurch, Neville Southall


Qualifying Group & Fixtures

GROUP D
Austria
Wales
Republic of Ireland
Serbia
Moldova
Georgia

2016
September 5 Wales 4-0 Moldova
October 6: (a) v Austria
October 9: (h) v Georgia
November 12: (h) v Serbia

2017
March 24: (a) v Republic of Ireland
June 11: (a) v Serbia
September 2: (h) v Austria
September 5: (a) v Moldova
October 6: (a) v Georgia
October 9: (h) v Republic of Ireland


Previous Meetings

06/02/2013 Friendlies 2013 Wales 2 - 1 Austria
30/03/2005 WC Qualification Europe 2006 Germany Austria 1 - 0 Wales
26/03/2005 WC Qualification Europe 2006 Germany Wales 0 - 2 Austria
29/04/1992 Friendlies 1992 Austria 1 - 1 Wales
19/11/1975 EC Qualification 1976 Yugoslavia Wales 1 - 0 Austria


Tickets

The match is now sold out. 4000 Welsh fans will be travelling to Vienna


Ernst Happel Stadion



Opening: 1931 | Capacity: 50,865 seats

History and description

The city of Vienna had long been exploring the possibility of building a new omni-sports stadium, when in1929 construction of the then called Prater Stadion started.

Construction of the stadium took 23 months, and it officially opened on the 11th of June 1931 with the Workers Olympiad. The stadium consisted of two bowl-shaped tiers that could hold about 60,000 spectators.

However, with the increasing popularity of football after the war, the Prater Stadion was soon in need of expansion. In 1956 therefore a third tier was added to bring capacity to 91,150.

A few years later, in 1960, a highest attendance of 90,726 was recorded during an international between the Austrian and USSR national teams.

By the 1980s several standing areas had already been coverted into seats, hereby reducing capacity to just over 70,000, when in 1984 a grand redevelopment was announced. The works included the construction of a roof and the conversion of the stadium into an all-seater. Capacity was further reduced to under 60,000.

In 1993 the name of the stadium was changed into Ernst Happel Stadion in honour of the legendary Austrian player and manager.

Ernst Happel Stadion was further refurbished for the Euro 2008 tournament, which included the placement of temporary bleachers in front of the permanent stands. During the tournament it hosted three group matches, a quarter-final, a semi-final, and the final between Spain and Germany (1-0).

Over the years the stadium hosted four Champions League and European Cup finals, starting in 1964 with the final between Internazionale and Real Madrid (3-1), and followed by Porto versus FC Bayern (2-1) in 1987, Milan versus Benfica (1-0) in 1990, and Ajax versus Milan (1-0) in 1995.

Ernst Happel Stadion furthermore hosted the 1970 Cup Winners’ Cup final between Manchester City and Górnik Zabrze (2-1).


Match Odds

Wales 23/10
Draw 11/5
Austria 5/4

Guess The Score

Post your predictions below

0-1 to Wales (vokes)

Austria 2 Wales 2

2-0 to Austria.

0-0 for me

Austria 1-2 Wales

0-1 Wales.

A tight 0-0 I think, but we will take it

Austria v Wales preview: All talk in Vienna is of a new Welsh dream ahead of World Cup qualifier


By Chris Wathan

Thursday 6th October 2016

At one stage in history, the capital of Austria saw the likes of Josef Stalin, Leon Trostky and Marshal Tito all live within a few miles of each other.

It was at a time when the city was known as ‘Red Vienna’. Albeit for very different reasons, the 4,000 who have travelled for this World Cup qualifying clash are intent on reviving the moniker.

The ‘Red Wall’ is set to be rebuilt at the Ernst Happel Stadion, the talk in the streets beneath the stunning neo-classical architecture in keeping with the postcard stereotype, all of those heady days in Bordeaux, Toulouse, Paris and Lille.

The chatter is not of the fact they take on a side who, if based on seedings alone, are Wales’ biggest threat to qualification. The conversations are not about the home record of the hosts that has seen them not lose a competitive home fixture for four years and even that was to world champions to be, Germany.

It is not of David Alaba or Marko Arnautovic or even the injury that ensures Aaron Ramsey, a player that can so often make the difference, is once again missing.



The talk is only of Wales, of their past summer and of a red community convinced of its future through togetherness. All very apt for a journey everyone hopes will lead to Russia. They do so in numbers, too. The Euros aside, this is the largest away section since hope sprung eternal in Milan in 2003 and even threatens to eclipse the numbers that once turned up for a home fixture against Estonia not so long ago.

But these are different times, following a team with a different mindset.

These are glory days for the national side because they continue to enjoy overt confidence without the burden of expectation. They are a top seed and the feeling from within the camp, oozing out of players this week, is one that isn’t fazed by that.

And yet there isn’t the daunting sense of overbearing and needing to live up to that faith, that there will be screams of hysteria if a win isn’t forthcoming here.

The players do not feel pressure, but they do feel belief carried on from France. They quickly snapped back into action in that convincing opening win over Moldova, one that could have been far more complicated given the nature of having to start back at square one following the efforts and energy needed to get to a first major finals.

“Coming back for Moldova it was all about getting going and started again,” said Ben Davies in the week, with a good bit of honesty to give an insight into the squad’s thoughts. “There was a bit of uncertainty about, could we keep it going?

“I know it was Moldova but the last thing we would have wanted was to come from the semi-finals of the Euros to struggling to get a result there.

“It was really nice to show the performance we did and really sweep aside a team that people expected us to. It sent a statement to the rest of the group.”

It was a message Austria have seemingly received, perhaps why they went on the attack with manager Marcel Koller and his bizarre claims about Welsh summer success being based on luck.

It says something about where Wales are that rivals are now the ones attempting to play mind games. Wales, instead, can keep their composure and maintain the enjoyment in front of the ‘Red Wall’ that has helped create this scenario.

They also do so knowing that a point would not represent a poor return if it can be followed up with an expected win over Georgia (a game with a different kind of pressure). It was, after all, draws with qualification rivals last autumn – against Bosnia at home and Belgium away – that paved the way for France.

That said, it cannot be underestimated what a win here in a temporarily red Vienna could do. If we are to take anything from the last campaign, it is the power of momentum where early points and faltering form of others saw Welsh belief gather an eventually unstoppable force.



Beating Austria would do so again, bringing up the possibility of heading into the home game with a better but still off-kilter Serbia and the chance of ending the year with 12 points to their name, with six games to go. Their tally to finish second a year ago was 21.

A win would really hammer home that Wales are a very different proposition to even the last qualifiers, that they are the team to be toppled, but also fuelling further the belief of a side that are convinced they cannot.

Yet that inner steel comes with it a humility, fed from the top down that the way they have got here needs more work and not less.

There will be an awareness they will have to compensate for the loss of Ramsey, though that Joe Allen shook off hamstring concerns with a stunning display – and a goal – against Manchester United last weekend will have come as a huge plus.



Coleman may have worries about the lack of Premier League minutes for some of his players, though that is compensated by the fact they fit into a well-oiled machine who know their roles as much as they know what it takes to earn victories on the road, something that has often eluded Wales over the years.

Indeed, it takes some thinking to recall the last time Wales won a match away to a group’s second seed. It takes much less to recall the influence the win in Israel had on the group and the group of players last time around.

That is what the talk has been around Red Vienna, a city that has another nickname.

Once the home of Sigmund Freud, the iconic psycho-analyst, it is also well known as the City of Dreams.

Wales may have lived theirs this summer, but the collective talk is of making a new dream become a reality.

To win
The bookies have Austria the narrowest of favourites for this one, despite the fact that they have won one match in their last five – and that a stumbling success in Georgia in the opening group clash.

Odds: 6/5 Austria, 9/5 Wales, 11/5 draw.

Bet: As the outsider of the three, the draw looks appealing at 11/5.

1-1 I would be happy with C"MON WALES

1-1 Bale free kick

Wales are back in action tonight as they take on Austria in their second 2018 World Cup qualifying match.

A 4-0 win over Moldova in the opening round of fixtures means Wales are currently top of their group ahead of tonight's big game.

This was Chris Coleman's brilliant response after Austria's manager claimed Wales' Euro 2016 success was lucky


THURSDAY 6 OCT 2016



BY JON DOEL


Austria boss Marcel Koller took a surprise swipe and Coleman's men ahead of today's match


Austria's manager has caused quite a stir by claiming Wales were lucky at Euro 2016, and Chris Coleman is having none of it.

As this footage shows, the Wales boss was on fine press conference form once again when he was directly asked about Marcel Koller's repeated claims good fortune was at the heart of the Welsh team's march to the semi-finals in France.

Coleman took a thinly veiled swipe at Austria's abysmal tournament, saying some teams were 'unable to handle the pressure' despite being fancied prior to the Euros.


Koller had said: “You need to be lucky. That is what we saw in the Euros.

“Wales were lucky sometimes and sometimes you need to be lucky such as when a striker shoots against the crossbar or the post.

“During the Euros they were lucky that a match did not turn in another direction.

“I think that helped the Welsh team get a really good portion of self confidence."

Wales: Hennessey; Taylor, Davies, Williams, Chester, Gunter; Ledley, Allen, King; Bale, Vokes.

Subs: Fon Williams, Davies, Collins, Dummett, Huws, Edwards, MacDonald, Crofts, Robson-Kanu, Bradshaw, Cotterill, Lawrence.

1-1

Half-time

Austria 1 Wales 2

A draw would have been good, anything else a bonus.

2-2