Noah Rosenstein
Updated on: October 7, 2024 9:37 pm GMT
Slovenia will face Austria on Friday evening at the Stozice Stadium in Ljubljana, as the two teams clash in the UEFA Nations League’s Group 3 of League B. This highly anticipated matchup follows both nations’ participation in the knockout stages of Euro 2024, with Slovenia falling to Portugal in penalties and Austria losing to Turkey in their respective last-16 matches.
Performance at Euro 2024
Slovenia’s performance in Euro 2024 marked a significant achievement, as they reached the knockout rounds for the second time in their history. Despite their efforts, they were eliminated in the first knockout stage, managing to draw against Portugal in regular time before succumbing to a penalty shootout. Their campaign began impressively, but ultimately ended in disappointment.
Austria, on the other hand, showcased a strong performance in the group stage, finishing with six points. They, too, faced a tough exit in the knockout rounds, losing 2-1 to Turkey. Austria was considered a dark horse for the tournament, bolstered by their formidable group stage showing.
Team Context in the Nations League
As Slovenia transitions from the Euro to the Nations League, they aim to build on last season’s improvement, which saw them gain promotion from League C to League B. Their last Nations League campaign ended in a third-place finish in Group 4, accumulating six points from six matches. Now in Group 3, they will be competing against Austria, Kazakhstan, and Norway.
AUST’s performance in the last Nations League was, however, less successful. Relegated from League A, Austria finished bottom of their group, gathering only four points from six matches. They will be eager to start the current campaign on a victorious note against Slovenia.
Historical Encounters
The Slovenia and Austria teams have met only four times in various competitions, with Austria leading the head-to-head record with three victories against Slovenia’s single win. Slovenia’s only triumph occurred in a friendly match back in March 1997, where they secured a 2-0 victory.
The last meeting between the two sides was during Euro 2020 qualification in October 2019, where Austria emerged victorious with a 1-0 scoreline, thanks to a decisive goal from Stefan Posch.
Team News and Expected Lineups
Slovenia is set to deploy a lineup similar to the one they used against Portugal in the Euro 2024 knockout stage. Prominent players like Jan Oblak, the Atlético Madrid goalkeeper, will be key to their strategy. However, Slovenia will miss defender Zan Karnicnik due to injury. Young talent Benjamin Sesko is anticipated to play a crucial role in the attack, despite facing challenges in the recent European Championship.
- Projected Slovenia Starting XI:
- Oblak; Stojanovic, Drkusic, Bijol, Balkovec; Lovric, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko.
Austria is likely to maintain their attacking setup under coach Ralf Rangnick, featuring key players like Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer. With a strong squad backing them, Austria will aim to capitalize on their recent head-to-head dominance. Michael Gregoritsch may find himself on the bench as the coaching staff sticks with Christopher Baumgartner and Romano Schmid in attack.
- Projected Austria Starting XI:
- Pentz; Posch, Danso, Lienhart, Mwene; Seiwald, Laimer; Schmid, Baumgartner, Sabitzer; Arnautovic.
Match Predictions and Betting Insights
Both teams enter the match with contrasting recent forms. Slovenia has not secured a victory in their last five matches, scoring only three goals during this period. In contrast, Austria has a positive outlook with a three-game winning streak against Slovenia, despite struggling in the Nations League with three consecutive losses.
Betting markets suggest a tight contest. Experts speculate that a draw is a likely outcome given both teams’ recent forms. However, there is cautious optimism for Austria, which may benefit from their past victories and overall performance.
Global Viewership and Accessibility
This match is creating significant interest both locally in Slovenia and among international fans. Although there will be no live television broadcast, online streaming via platforms like VAVEL will keep audiences updated with live scoring and commentary.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2:45 PM ET, with the following timings in various regions:
- Argentina: 3:45 PM
- United Kingdom: 7:45 PM
- Spain: 8:45 PM
- Brazil: 3:45 PM
- Mexico: 1:45 PM
Conclusion
As Slovenia and Austria gear up for their UEFA Nations League clash, the match promises to be an intriguing encounter between two teams looking to establish their footing in Group 3. With both sides aiming for a strong start, fans will be watching closely to see who comes out on top at Stozice Stadium.
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