Who are Austria's players? From World Cup fairytale to Manchester United flop | OneFootball

Premier League fans will recognise a few on show tonight against Spain

Austria face reigning European champions Spain for a place in the World Cup round of 16 tonight.

Ralf Ragnick’s side qualified in second place from Group J, behind World Cup holders Argentina and ahead of Algeria and Jordan with four points.

Following a dramatic 3-3 draw in their final group game against Algeria, Austria must now take on Spain at the Los Angeles Stadium.

Austria will have a task on their hands if they are to topple one of the pre-tournament favourites, but they will take confidence from how close DR Congo came to securing an almighty shock over England last night.

Austria’s squad is stacked full of European pedigree, so Standard Sport has cast its eye over who to look out for against Spain…

Alexander Schlager

Austria’s No1, who plays for Red Bull Salzburg, can expect to be busy even if Spain has one of the lowest shots on target percentages (29.1%) of the teams left in the competition.

David Alaba

At one time, a world-class jack of all trades, who counterbalanced calm defensive performances for Bayern Munich and Real Madrid with swashbuckling attacking displays for Austria.

More reserved now at 34, but no less experienced and still plays an important role. Is a free agent as of yesterday after his Madrid contract expired.

Stefan Posch

Suffered a broken jaw in the opening game, is yet has continued to be selected by Ragnick, underlining his importance to the team.

Kevin Danso

Not a guaranteed starter under Ragnick, the Tottenham defender is one of a few Austrian players familiar to Premier League fans.

Carney Chukwuemeka

A former Chelsea midfielder, now at Borussia Dortmund. Despite representing England at youth level, he chose to represent Austria, the country of his birth, in March 2026.

Xaver Schlager

Will have a task on his hands trying to get to grips with Spain’s midfield. Plays for RB Leipzig.

Nicolas Seiwald

Does the dirty work in midfield alongside Leipzig team-mate Schlager. Ever reliable and often underappreciated.

Romano Schmid

Scored the opening goal of Austria’s campaign as they secured their first World Cup win since 1990 by beating Jordan.

Marcel Sabitzer

Former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder, now at Borussia Dortmund. He has an eye for a goal and is one of four players to have played every minute so far.

Impressed in flashes during a short-term loan at Old Trafford in 2023, but injury restricted him to just 11 appearances.

The standard bearer for Austria. He does a bit of everything and has top-level experience as a key part of Vincent Kompany’s free-flowing Bayern Munich.

Marko Arnautovic

Now 37, it perhaps says something about Austria’s waning power that he still leads the line. Has delivered two goals in three games, though, so should not be discounted as a threat.

Was a success for both Stoke City and West Ham in the Premier League, and went on to play for Inter Milan. Now plys his trade in Serbia.

Paul Wanner

One to watch, the 20-year-old switched Bayern for PSV last summer and played an important role as they lifted the Eredivisie title.

Sasa Kalajdzic

Suffered a broken jaw in the opening game, yet has continued to be selected by Ragnick, underlining his importance to the team.

Kalajdzic, formerly of Wolves, who has suffered three seperate ACL injuries in five years, climbed off the bench to snatch a 96th-minutes equaliser against Algeria to send Austria through to the knockout stages.