Alaba Backs Argentina Vs Austria as Austria Returns After 28 Years

Argentina vs Austria is set to mark Austria’s return to the World Cup after 28 years, with Jordan also making its first tournament appearance. The matchup carries two debut stories at once, but Austria arrives with a five-match unbeaten run and a squad trimmed to 25 players.

Rangnick's 4-2-3-1

Ralf Rangnick has built Austria around pressure and a system the players know well, and the expected 4-2-3-1 reflects that work. Patrick Pentz, Stefan Posch, Kevin Danso, David Alaba, Phillipp Mwene, Nicolas Seiwald, Konrad Laimer, Xaver Schlager, Patrick Wimmer, Marcel Sabitzer and Marko Arnautovic are the possible names in the lineup against Jordan.

The setup matters because Austria did not add a replacement after Christoph Baumgartner tore his right thigh in warmups for the friendly against Tunisia on June 1. Rangnick kept the group at 25 players, so the shape and the same core group will have to cover the absence without a new call-up.

Jordan's first World Cup

Jordan enters the tournament without a win since December, which gives Austria a clear edge in form even before kickoff. That contrast is the sharpest line in this game: one side is ending a 28-year wait, and the other is stepping onto the World Cup stage for the first time.

David Alaba put Austria’s mood plainly: “Somos una selección que sueña a lo grande”. He is one of the players Rangnick has leaned on through the long build under his pressure-based plan, alongside Konrad Laimer, Marcel Sabitzer and Marko Arnautovic.

Austria's 28-year return

The timing is also fixed for readers tracking the event: Austria vs Jordania was scheduled to be shown live on 17 de junio at 11:00. For Austria, the return after 28 years is the headline; for Jordan, the debut is the milestone. Both teams enter wanting to push beyond the group stage, and Austria’s unbeaten run gives it a steadier platform going in.