World Cup qualifier preview: UEFA Group C – Austria vs Denmark; Narrow win for Danes at Generous odds

Categories: Football betting | Published by: Andy Nelson

30/03/2021

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Updated: 14th October 2021

2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier preview: UEFA Group C – Austria vs Denmark – Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Wien – Wednesday, 31 March 2021, 19:45 hrs. BST

The leading two sides of Group F face off each other as Austria welcome Denmark to the Ernst-Happel-Stadion on Wednesday night for a WC 2022 qualifier.

The visitors have begun their qualifying campaign on a thunderous note, winning 2-0 away in Israel and following it up with a 8-0 mauling of Moldova while Austria opened with a 2-2 away draw to Scotland and beat Faroe Islands 3-1 at home following that.

Denmark as a result lead the cluster with 6 points from their two games while Austria sit on the second spot with 4 points from similar number of outings as their opponents.

Austria form guide: W W D D W

Denmark form guide: W W L W W

For Denmark, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Christian Eriksen and Martin Braithwaite all of whom were benched in Sunday's big win over Moldova will in all likelihood make starts at Wien on March 31st.

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Martin Hinteregger and Julian Baumgartlinger who played no part in Austria's two fixtures so far will be two key absentees for Wednesday's clash. Sasa Kalajdzic who has been in good touch for Stuttgart should retain his place upfront alongside RB Leipzig's Marcel Sabitzer, though Michael Gregoritsch is another player pushing for a start.

Austria probable starting XI:

Schlager (goal); Lainer, Dragovic, Lienhart, Alaba; Baumgartner, Grillitsch, Ilsanker, Schlager; Kalajdzic, Sabitzer

Denmark probable starting lineup:

Schmeichel (goal); Wass, Kjaer, Christensen, Maehle; Hojbjerg, Delaney; Poulsen, Eriksen, Braithwaite; Dolberg

At the international level, Kasper Hjulmand's side have lost only 2 outings out of the ten they featured in since the beginning of 2020, both defeats coming to World No.1 team Belgium. Other than that, the Danes have emerged victorious in seven of their remaining 8 outings and drawn just one.

Like their forthcoming opponents, Austria too have been on a rich run of form over the past couple of years, losing only two of their last 18 fixtures.

Past encounters between the two nations suggest that the Vienna game could be a tight affair, with both sharing four wins apiece from their nine meetings, the most recent of those ending with a 2-0 win for Denmark two years back. Given their recent form, the visiting Danes hold the edge in Wednesday's Group C fixture.