UEFA Nations League preview: Ireland -v- Austria

In a week full of controversy for Irish football that has put past stories such as Saipan and Henry's handball to the sword, the Ireland play at the Aviva Stadium for the first time in this Nations League campaign taking on Austria amidst a wave of torn support for the side and FAI.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

A quiet international window so far, eh?

Heimer Hallgrimsson and his side have endured an international campaign that will scarcely be rivalled for controversy in their careers.

In footballing affairs, a nightmare start in Pristina saw Kosovo record a 1-0 victory over the Boys in Green, as Vedat Muriqi netted late on to ensure the first ever competitive meeting of the nations swung the way of the home side last Thursday.

As dire a performance and result as that was, it was quickly put to the side as undoubtedly one of the most controversial games in the national team's history was to follow three days later.

In the build-up to the second game of the campaign against Israel, which had been accompanied by protests regarding a boycott of the fixture, preparations were thrown into severe turmoil.

The withdrawal from the fixture by goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, a vote among the players to play the game questionably labelled as a "significant majority" in favour by FAI CEO David Courell, delayed flights, press conferences and training sessions, followed by a bizarre attack-themed questions by Israeli journalists of the Irish camp, all rolled into one Saturday ensured that this game was never escaping a label of division.

The match itself was not without its flashpoints but was a resounding 3-0 win for Ireland.

Three goals in short succession in the first half courtesy of Troy Parrott, Adam Idah and the quickly impressing Jack Moylan ensured Ireland blew their opponents away and picked up a much needed three points.

But doing so in a largely empty stadium, in the face of a number of Israeli supporters where alleged racial abuse of Adam Idah added to the headlines, alongside no handshakes between the sides as well as a reported confrontation between Jake O'Brien and Israeli skipper Manor Solomon, couldn't influence many feelings towards the fixture that it was wrong.

While finger pointing from the FAI is rampant following the win and talk largely remains around the nature of the fixture, Ireland's attention returns briefly to home soil as they prepare to play the unbeaten Austria.

It'll be the first time in almost 10 years they'll have met them, while it is the first competitive match in the Aviva since the heroic 2-0 win over Portugal last November.

In football focus, this will be Ireland's toughest test so far in this Nations League and backing up Sunday's performance is of huge importance here. But developments off the pitch will remain in the spotlight and how the players who line out on Thursday respond once more continues to be of interest.

AUSTRIA

Nearing the end of an impressive year where they reached the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, being knocked out by eventual winners Spain after finishing second in their group, Austria have enjoyed a strong start to their Nations League campaign.

Back-to-back 3-1 wins over Israel and Kosovo sees them top of the group heading into this fixture in what is their first trip to and meeting with Ireland since July 2017.

They are managed by Ralf Rangnick, the experienced German head coach who has managed a number of top flight clubs in his native country while also being interim manager of Manchester United in a spell in 2022 before taking the reigns of the Austrian team.

With only two losses this year (both in the World cup to finalists Spain and Argentina) they have established themselves as a side gunning for goals under Rangnick, scoring nineteen in nine games in 2026, while just under a year ago they recorded a 10-0 win over San Marino.

Most members of the squad ply their trade throughout the German Bundesliga, while familiar Premier League names such as Xaver Schlager and Kevin Danso are also key members of the Austrian setup.

They will be looking to make it three wins out of three in the group here but remain without a number of key players who haven't been a part of the setup so far this campaign, while past stars such as Marko Arnautovic (retired) and David Alaba aren't in contention for their country.

Some of the heavy-hitters also on the missing list include Christoph Baumgartner and Marcel Sabitzer who is on an international duty hiatus, while Bayern Munich ace Konrad Laimer returned to training this week after a muscle tear.

Nevertheless, considering their form and goalscoring exploits over the previous two Nations League games, they will back themselves to earn a result in Dublin and aim to become the first national side to beat Ireland in the Aviva Stadium since October 2023.

Referee: Allard Lindhout (Netherlands)

MATCH STATS

Ireland's all-time record versus Austria is a poor one, winning just three meetings out of sixteen.

The last competitive match between the nations was a World Cup qualifier in the Aviva Stadium in July 2017, where a late Jonathan Walters goal earned a 1-1 draw.

Ireland have endured their fair share of heartbreak at the hands of the Austrians, courtesy of an injury time David Alaba equaliser in the Aviva and a 1-0 defeat in Vienna in the 2013 World Cup qualifiers which effectively ended Giovanni Trappatoni's reign as Ireland head coach.

PREDICTION

Republic of Ireland 2-2 Austria

Republic of Ireland

Injured: Nathan Collins, Evan Ferguson, Josh Cullen, Mikey Johnston, Jack Taylor

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Unavailable: Seamus Coleman

Austria

Injured: Christoph Baumgartner

Doubtful: Konrad Laimer, Paul Wanner

Suspended: None

Unavailable: Marcel Sabitzer, David Alaba

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— extratime.com (@extratime.com) 30 September 2026 at 23:19

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