STARTING XI
REMAINING SQUAD MEMBERS
3 best players not in the squad:
5 players from the 1934 squad, the revolutionary Austrian 'Wunderteam', make this team. They are considered one of the greatest sides to never win the World Cup. 6 make it from the the side that finished third in 1954, the nation's best achievement, and a further 4 make it from the Austrian team that reached the second round of the 1978 World Cup, famously beating West Germany in the process. David Alaba is the best Austrian footballer since that era, and the only player from the 21st Century here. He makes the starting XI narrowly over Karl Sesta. Blum or Alaba can cover as the 4th centre-back in the squad. Nausch, Koller, Gschweidl and Decker can cover the midfield diamond, while Binder and Scholl can be options upfront. I chose Krankl as my final pick as the best player not yet included. Hanappi can Schall can be wide options in the squad. Players By Decade: 1930's (8), 1950's (6), 1980's (2), 1970's (2), 1920's (2), 2010's (1), 1990's (1), 1940's (1) World-Class Austrian Players (17)
Honourable Mentions (Close to Gold):
Zeman / Nausch / Gschweidl
Top 10 Austrian Players of All-Time (& their all-time positional rank)
|