Kickoff to the grand finale
The time has finally come. After an almost flawless qualifying campaign so far, Ralf Rangnick’s team can secure their long-awaited first qualification for a World Cup finals since 1998 in this international week. The match in Cyprus against the 125th-ranked team in the FIFA world rankings could be the decisive one.
There are many different scenarios in which the Alpine republic could win the group and qualify for the World Cup. On the one hand, Arnautovic and Co., who have qualification in their own hands, need six, four or even just two points from their last two games to be sure of a trip to North America. Under certain circumstances, however, a win on Sunday could be enough if Bosnia does not beat Romania at the same time.
So there is a lot at stake when the group leaders visit the fourth-placed team, and although Rangnick’s team is of course the big favorite, there are good reasons to bet on a surprise in Cyprus vs. Austria.
Cypriot soccer is currently on the rise. In addition to the great performances of the island’s clubs in European competitions, the national team has also performed more than respectably in this qualifying phase. Apart from the two mandatory wins against San Marino, Apostolos Mantzios’ team has been particularly impressive in home games, which is why the forecast for Cyprus vs. Austria predicts a close match.
The underdogs have performed well against both Romania and Bosnia, who are both ranked higher than 125th in the world, and have scored points in both games. Accordingly, the high odds for Cyprus to win a point against Austria seem somewhat exaggerated. A bet on the hosts, who are unbeaten at home, is therefore likely to offer good value.
The team led by newly crowned record goalscorer Marko Arnautovic has been preparing for this important match in Paphos since the beginning of the week. In training, team manager Rangnick will certainly focus on how to break down the Cypriots’ compact defense. In the last meeting between these two teams, the 24th-ranked team in the world struggled throughout the game to find solutions against their deep-lying opponents.
In addition to their well-organized defense, the Cypriots’ counterattacks also caused the Austrians some problems in the first leg. It is likely that Apostolos Mantzios’ team will take a similar approach on Sunday, especially as the visitors will be without David Alaba due to suspension. It therefore stands to reason that – even if the hosts don’t come away with any points – we can expect a close game in which the home team won’t lose by more than one goal.
Cyprus – Austria Head-to-head record
The head-to-head record in this encounter speaks for itself. With seven wins from eight meetings, the Austrians have a clear advantage here.
Cyprus – Austria Tip
On Sunday, Ralf Rangnick’s team can take a big step towards the World Cup or, if the Bosnia game goes their way, even book their tickets to North America. Even though the visitors are the big favorites, as the betting odds for Cyprus vs. Austria indicate, caution is advised.
The islanders have shown, especially in home games, that they are difficult to beat. It could therefore be worthwhile to bet on the hosts, either with a handicap bet or a double chance. Alternatively, you could also bet on “under 2.5.”
