Sweden vs Austria prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-09-11 18:45.
A resounding 5-0 win over Estonia on Saturday saw Sweden keep pace with Group Fâs top two, and one of those sides is Austria, who Sweden now face knowing another win would move them to within a point of the second-placed side. This is essentially âdo or dieâ for Sweden, who know anything other than victory here would see them staring down the barrel of missing a first European Championships finals since 1996.
Boss Janne Andersson insists his players are âaware of the situationâ, but having won six of their last nine home Euro qualifiers (D2, L1), heâd be wise not to pile too much pressure on them. Andersson also alluded to the potential margin of victory for his side, as with goal difference a premier tie breaker for two sides locked on the same points, he will be keen for his team to seize the initiative here against a near rival.
It was Austria who won the reverse leg 2-0, but after they humiliatingly drew 1-1 against #164 ranked Moldova on Thursday, few know what to expect from them. Perhaps the two extra days to recover will help them here, but speculation regarding boss Ralf Rangnickâs future certainly wonât, as the former Manchester United chief is being linked with the vacant Germany job.
He stays for now, with his primary task trying to secure Austria a third-successive Euro finals appearance for the first time in history. They have an overall positive H2H record against Sweden to fall back on in search of a victory that would move them closer to that feat (W18, D6, L14), and interestingly have only won more games against two other nations than against their Scandinavian counterparts.
Players to watch: Viktor Gyökeres has netted in both of Swedenâs Euro qualification wins in this cycle and if he gets on the scoresheet again, expect goals as his four international scoring appearances all yielded at least four total goals. Austriaâs Christoph Baumgartner was the hero of the reverse fixture with a game-winning brace, both of which arrived after the 80th minute.
Hot streak: None of Swedenâs last six Euro qualifiers have seen both teams score.