Austria – Serbia 06/10: FIFA – World Cup Qualifiers Europe. Starts 20:45

It has been a disappointing qualification campaign for Austria. Undefeated on the road to the 2016 UEFA European Championships in France Austria disappointed at the tournament and has since been unable to stop the rot. Much of the blame has been shouldered on Koller, who has been unable to develop this side further. Following the match in Vienna and the away trip to Moldova, it will be up to Koller’s successor to rebuild this squad and build on the promise of a successful 2016 UEFA European Championship qualification. Austria will start their last two qualification games without the injured Bundesliga stars David Alaba, Martin Harnik, Martin Hinteregger, and Marcel Sabitzer. We can also add Sebastijan Predl and Arnautovic who has a cold. Austria will miss all this players: Almer, Prodl, Klein, Wimmer, Stangl, Suttner, Harnik, Alaba, Junuzović, Schopf, Sabitzer, Hinterseer We can add to the fact from 23 players that is in contention only 8 players have more than 4 caps. Team coach Marcel Koller is a dead man walking after the ÖFB announced that his contract would not be renewed following World Cup qualifying. This have been huge thing, many players want him to stay and open ”war” between players and the federation is ongoing. Hence, with two games left Koller is now in the awkward position to move Austria towards a transitional period. Against Serbia, he has nominated a somewhat experimental side calling up Valentino Lazaro from Hertha Berlin as well as Florian Klein, Philipp Schobesberger and Christoph Knassmüller. Serbia need a draw to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Still undefeated in Group D of UEFA qualifying Serbia have collected 18 points in eight matches and are currently four points clear of second-placed Wales. Serbia have not qualified for a major tournament since the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa where they were eliminated in the group stages. They are in big harmony and their confidence is peaking. It would be a massive success for Serbia, who have been very successful at the youth level in recent years. The 64-year-old Slavoljub Muslin now has the chance to take a talented side to the World Cup in Russia next summer. All that stands in the way is a single draw in the last two matches against Austria and Georgia. Ernst Happel Stadion has 51.000 seats but for this game only 48.000 tickets and the local media write that about 40.000 tickets is sold to Serbian supporters. They will have massive support for this important encounter. With todays circumstances: All the missing players in Austria, experimental first eleven, lack of motivation and ”fights” behind close doors against a motivated opponent who will fill Ernst Happel Stadion to make this as a home venue. Serbia will have massive support and possess the best team in the group. We are getting 2.07 and that is a great investment!