World Cup 2022: Great Danes Face Tricky Trip to Austria

World Cup 2022: Great Danes Face Tricky Trip to Austria

Austria vs Denmark

Denmark are looking quite dangerous at the moment. They have made a perfect start to their World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign with two comfortable wins, including a record 8-0 demolition of Moldova.

However, the Danes face a tough trip away to Austria, who figure to be their biggest challengers in Group F.

The World Cup 2022 betting odds have Denmark as slight favourites, but Austria have a red-hot striker Sasa Kalajdzic, who will be eager to extend his goalscoring run against the Danes.

Talking Points

Austria’s young striker can’t stop scoring

Austria are off to a decent start in their World Cup qualification campaign. They were a bit disappointed to only draw 2-2 against Scotland despite going ahead twice through two Sasa Kalajdzic goals. But they took care of business against the Faroe Islands as they overcame an early deficit to run out 3-1 winners.

Austria have now gone an impressive eight matches unbeaten in all competitions, with six wins and two draws.

Kalajdzic scored their third goal against the Faroes just before half-time as his incredible scoring run continues. The 23-year-old Stuttgart striker has now scored 11 goals in his last 10 games for club and country. The lone game he failed to score in was Stuttgart’s 4-0 defeat away to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.

He is sixth in the Bundesliga goalscoring charts with 13 goals and also has three assists. And he now has three goals in four international caps.

Kalajdzic is part of Austria’s strong spine composed of German Bundesliga stars, which also includes David Alaba of Bayern Munich, midfielder Marcel Sabizter of RB Leipzig, and centre-back Aleksandar Dragovic of Bayer Leverkusen.

The extremely versatile Alaba plays many different positions for his country. He was used in central midfield against the Faroe Islands, but with the Danes possessing dangerous attackers, he could be positioned back in defence against Denmark.

Denmark looking dominant after record win

Denmark turned in a dominant display with their 8-0 demolition of Moldova. It’s easily biggest victory during the first few rounds of World Cup qualification in Europe, and also the country’s biggest win in a qualifier for a major tournament.

Denmark did not even need stars like Christian Eriksen, Yussuf Poulsen, Andreas Christensen, and Pierre Emile Hojberg to dish out their record beating.

Instead, it was Denmark’s youngsters, led by 20-year-old Mikkel Damsgaard, who provided nearly all of the World Cup 2022 highlights. Damsgaard, who plays for Serie A side Sampdoria, was directly responsible for half of the Danes’ goals, with two scored and two assisted.

Meanwhile, fellow youngster Kasper Dolberg (23 years old) also scored twice, and Andreas Skov Olsen (21 years old) assisted both of Damsgaard’s goals.

Despite those strong performances, though, it seems unlikely that Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand will award any of those three a start against a tough opponent like Austria away from home. But at least the Danes will have options off the bench in case they need a goal.

Hjulmand will likely revert back to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Jonas Wind leading the line and Eriksen, Poulsen, and Barcelona’s Martin Braithwaite in support. The 22-year-old Wind has been in fine form for his country, scoring three times in his last four caps.

Wind scored in Denmark’s only loss in their last nine games, which was a 4-2 defeat to Belgium in their Nations League finale. The Danes won seven of those nine games, with one draw.

History

Austria and Denmark have met just nine times in total. Both nations are tied at four wins apiece, with only one draw.

Denmark have had the upper hand of late, though, with three wins in their last four. That includes their most recent meeting, a 2-0 win in an international friendly in 2018. Although, all four of Austria’s wins over the Danes have come on home soil.

Betting Tip

Over 2.25 @ 1.91

The SBOTOP odds for this Group F encounter are very close indeed. Denmark are only narrow 2.44 favourites, with Austria priced at 2.57. Meanwhile, a draw is at 3.10.

Given the great form both teams are in, it’s hard to pick a winner between the two of them — if there even is a winner.

That’s why I’m going to take the total goals to go over instead. Both teams have been involved in some high-scoring affairs of late; five of Denmark’s last eight games have had three or more goals, while there have been three or more goals in seven of Austria’s last 10.

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

Do you want to be informed about bookmakers' latest promotions?

 Click  and subscribe!