Preview: Ireland look to heed error message in Austria

When the Republic of Ireland walk out into the Raiffeisen Arena tonight, they will know the equation is simple if they have real ambitions of topping their UEFA Nations League group.

A victory over Austria, coupled with a home win over Kosovo at Aviva Stadium next Tuesday would seal top spot and automatic promotion given the Boys in Green would have the all-important head-to-head advantage over tonight's hosts.

Easier said than done of course. Ireland barely laid a glove on an impressive Kosovo in September before falling to a late defeat in Pristina.

As for the immediate Austrian assignment, the Irish side could not hold onto a Troy Parrott-inspired two-goal half-time lead in the reverse fixture in Dublin on the first day of October.

But that eventual draw against a side just outside FIFA's top 20 left Heimir Hallgrimsson with a clear message for his players tonight.

Mistakes are strictly verboten - to borrow the local lingo for forbidden - if they want to stand a chance of progression, especially considering Austria's strong home record, which includes 3-1 wins over both Kosovo and Israel during the last window.

"Obviously we need to play well, we need to be solid. We cannot do the same mistakes we did at home in the second half," the Ireland manager emphasised in Friday's press conference as he vocally targeted a top two finish in Group B3.

Liam Kitching's mistake in being caught on the ball deep in his own half in the lead-up to Austria's first goal two months ago is clearly fresh in the mind of Hallgrimsson.

And that is even more heightened when factoring in how well-drilled Austria are and how much pressure Ralf Rangnick-coached sides like to apply.

"We know their playing style. They are a counter-pressing team, a lot of energy, willing runners," Hallgrimsson warned, whilst also admiring how the opposition's collective outshines the individual.

"So just don't dwell on the ball, it's about touches, limiting touches, moving the ball faster, and knowing the spaces that we can play when we win it.

"Tactically, we need to be defensively solid. They will come in numbers. Normally playing with a 3-1-6 almost. So we need to be careful in defending, being solid and being switched on and focused."

Ireland's hopes are boosted by the return of captain Nathan Collins from injury and he will almost certainly slot straight back into the starting line-up.

The centre-back only had a watching brief at Aviva Stadium last month and the challenge Austria pose is certainly not lost on him from what he witnessed.

"I like the way they play, I think they're exciting, I think they're energetic, I think they play short, they play long, they've runners, the way they press," he told RTÉ Sport.

"I think they're a really exciting team and it's a team I kind of enjoy playing against as well, it's a team you should relish playing against.

"I think there's places we can expose them. As much as they are very dangerous, we're dangerous in our own way and I think it will be a good game of football."

James Abankwah is also back from suspension, making him a primary option to take up the right wing back slot. The "hybrid" man Séamus Coleman though is not part of the matchday squad for tonight, Hallgrimsson confirmed on Friday, although a Tuesday cameo has not been ruled out.

With continuity in mind, the Irish system needs little introduction with Hallgrimsson almost certainly lining his side out in their now customary 5-2-2-1 formation.

Troy Parrott will lead the line, buoyed by encouraging words from his manager amidst a dry spell in front of goal at Real Betis. The sight of Austrian jerseys should give the striker a pep in his step considering the magical opening goal he scored in Dublin.

What will be intriguing will be who takes up the two support roles directly behind Parrott. Adam Idah and Jack Moylan both stood out in the 2-2 draw. The latter, in flying form for Cardiff City, should be in the XI. But the question mark will be whether Hallgrimsson risks Finn Azaz in the deeper six role that he took on in the home game against Austria or if he will join Moylan as one of the two 10s.

If Azaz is further forward, Hallgrimsson will pick two from Jayson Molumby, Jason Knight and a Conor Coventry who established himself as a starting option in the last camp for the defensive midfield roles.

Molumby though is one of five Irish players (Liam Scales, Conor Coventry, Adam Idah and Ryan Manning the others at risk) carrying a booking which could factor into Hallgrimsson's selection plans with Tuesday in mind.

Austria though are somewhat depleted going into tonight's game. On Friday, they confirmed that Nottingham Forest midfielder Xaver Schlager and Alexander Prass, scorer of their first goal in Dublin, have now joined a lengthy list of players ruled out of tonight.

Among the other players missing are Borussia Dortmund midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, PSV's Paul Wanner and the legendary veteran David Alaba.

"Now we've got eight players out and six of those eight are actually core players as far as the team is concerned," said Rangnick on Friday.

However, the Austria manager is boosted by the return of RB Leipzig midfielder Christoph Baumgartner, although Rangnick suggested that he may only be able to for a maximum of 65-70 minutes.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich key man Konrad Laimer will wear the captain's armband and is fully fit having been only able to play a half of football in the Dublin game.

Both are players currently in the Champions League, with only the aforementioned Parrott holding that status for Ireland this season.

But one intangible that Ireland can look to is what happened this time last year in beating Portugal and Hungary - with Parrott to the fore - to grasp a World Cup play-off spot.

Is Hallgrimsson sensing a similar crescendo is coming, starting tonight?

"I'm confident in this camp, especially just coming from last camp, it just feels different, the vibe is positive, the players just enjoy coming together," he told RTÉ Sport.

"That chemistry, looking at it every day, gives you confidence. Sometimes we've been having players come in, scoring a lot of goals, (winning) Man of the Match but we don't play well so it's never a given, even though you feel like everything is positive.

"But I think this time around we can go more bravely, we can express ourselves more than before, because we kind of have everything to win."

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Watch Austria v Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1

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