- Recent form: Spain have gone unbeaten in 10 consecutive games in all competitions, winning six of them
- Form: Austria have won six of their last 10 in all competitions but are still behind Spain in terms of consistency
- Players to watch: Spain's main goal threat is Mikel Oyarzabal, who has scored five goals in his last five appearances
Spain to grind out a victory against Austria
Spain's control:
But the new version of Spain are also incredibly tough to beat and can take this game by a goal or two when they take on Austria at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday.
Luis de la Fuente has done a remarkable job since December 2022 and his team have been absolutely ruthless in maintaining control of the ball and setting up their goals.
The possession-first, positional game is something we know all too well, but this Spain team has been honed into a slick, high-control machine that can get you out of any situation and get forward with real speed and incision when they need to.
Clash of styles:
The clash of styles in Los Angeles will be whether Spain can contain Austria's high-octane pressure and win the ball back in dangerous places to cause problems.
- Ralf Rangnick's side are much more vertical than Spain, and they make the game a running game instead of a possession game.
- They need to win the ball, get back on their terms and push forward at pace.
Sabitzer to challenge Spain's central stability
Austria's away form in all competitions includes six goals conceded in four games, which is not great but still suggests that they can make this game somewhat lopsided.
But Rangnick has done an excellent job since June 2022 and his structure of pressing has given them an identity as a front-foot team that never backs off.
They are not a wide team, which is where Spain will get their width from, and Austria are at their most dangerous when they can get Sabitzer into space, either late on runs or driving the tempo in transition.
Austria's overall form has been three wins, one draw and one defeat in their last five in all competitions and they arrive off a 3-1 win over Jordan, a 2-0 defeat to Argentina and a 3-3 draw with Algeria.
This draw looks fair because of how much Austria can come at Spain and the way in which they can force the action, but Spain should still get the better of the play for long periods of the match, so the main bet here is Spain to win 2-0, even if it is a long way off a safe pick.
The 1.29 odds on Spain in the match result market are too short, but at 4.8, Austria have a real chance to upset the odds if they can grab the pace of the first half. Spain's best alternative is probably in the Both Teams to Score - No market at 1.44, which fits with a game where Spain are stingy at the back.
