Ireland with new number one aims for third win in the Nations League

At the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, 8:45 p.m., the Austrian team meets the Irish for the third time in the current Nations League. After two 3‑1 victories over Israel and Kosovo, Rangnick wants to secure a third win with a new number one. The appearance is seen as an important step towards promotion.

The broadcast starts at 8:15 p.m. on ORF 1, where Rainer Pariasek hosts and Dietmar Wolff provides commentary. Former team captain Andreas Ivanschitz assists as co‑host, while from Vienna Christian Diendorfer, Lisa Makas and Peter Stöger make up the studio panel.

Squad and Injuries

Florian Wiegele, a 2.05‑metre‑tall goalkeeper, is in the starting eleven for the first time, as Rangnick revealed before the flight. The original idea of using all four goalkeepers across the four internationals fails, because Christian Zawieschitzky is sidelined with an injury after his debut against Kosovo.

U21 goalkeeper Lukas Jungwirth steps in as a replacement, while Matteo Bignetti from 1. FC Saarbrücken moves up as the third keeper. Further absences affect Paul Wanner and Nikolas Veratschnig, who were injured against Kosovo, as well as Sascha Horvath, whose thigh problem prevents him from playing.

Tactics and Opponent

Rangnick plans to switch from a 4‑2‑3‑1 to a 4‑3‑3 in order to break the Irish three‑man central defence with three forwards pressing. “We need a higher intensity than the opponent again,” he emphasised before the flight.

Seiwald expects “very physical Irish who want to play forward quickly,” while Rangnick adds: “It’s also agreed with the Bayern that he will come on in the second half.”

The Irish opponent has Troy Parrott, who has the highest market value at €25 million and has been playing for Betis Sevilla since the summer. In 39 internationals he has scored twelve goals, and the Irish often resort to long balls into the number sixteen.

A win in Dublin could catapult the Austrian team further up and increase the chances of promotion from the Nations League. At the same time, the match remains a test for Rangnick’s squad rotation ahead of the final against Kosovo.