As the World Cup Qualifying Round continues, Cyprus hosts Austria on Saturday at the Alphamega Stadium in Limassol. This match is important for Austria, who aim for a direct route to the 2026 World Cup.
Match Preview: Cyprus vs Austria
Austria is currently leading Group H with 15 points from six matches. They suffered a setback in their last game, losing 1-0 to Romania due to a last-minute goal from Virgil-Eugen Ghita. Despite this defeat, a win against Cyprus could secure a playoff spot or even direct qualification, depending on results in other matches.
Current Standings
- Austrian Team: 15 points (6 matches; W5, L1)
- Cyprus Team: 8 points (7 matches; W2, D2, L3)
Austria has historically performed well against Cyprus, winning all seven competitive encounters. In their last meeting, a penalty from Marcel Sabitzer was required to clinch a narrow victory for Austria.
Cyprus’ Position
Cyprus sits fourth in their group and has recently found form, boasting two wins, including a 4-0 victory against San Marino. However, their qualification aspirations have ended. Their FIFA ranking has improved to 125th after the recent victory.
Team News and Lineups
Cyprus faces significant challenges with key players suspended. Kostas Pileas, Konstantinos Laifis, and top scorer Ioannis Pittas will not participate, prompting changes in their starting lineup. Anderson Correia and Nikolas Panagiotou are expected to fill defensive roles, while Andronikos Kakoullis might lead the attack.
Austria also deals with absences. Defender David Alaba and left-back Phillipp Mwene are suspended. Kevin Danso from Tottenham Hotspur is likely to step in as a central defender, and Alexander Prass may play on the left.
Expected Lineups
| Cyprus | Austria |
|---|---|
| Mall | Schlager |
| Siikkis | Prass |
| Andreou | Danso |
| Panagiotou | Lienhart |
| Correia | Posch |
| Kastanos | Laimer |
| C. Charalampous | Seiwald |
| Artymatas | Sabitzer |
| Tzionis | Baumgartner |
| Loizou | Schmid |
| Kakoullis | Arnautovic |
Final Thoughts
This match is poised to be competitive. Austria is looking to secure a win to consolidate their position, while Cyprus aims to impress on home soil despite their elimination from qualification. Although Cyprus has exhibited good form at home, Austria’s quality may prove decisive.
