Rangnick leads Austria to the World Cup! Arnautovic s double blast helps the team lead the qualifying area

In a key match in the seventh round of Group H of the 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers, Austria defeated Cyprus 2-0 in an away game and continued to hold the top spot in the group, just one step away from advancing directly to the World Cup. This brand-new "Blue and White Army" was created by former Manchester United interim coach Ralf Rangnick.

The game was played at home in Cyprus, but the rhythm was completely controlled by Austria after the opening. With stronger overall strength and the high-pressure pressing system emphasized by Rangnick, the visiting team took the initiative early and continued to attack the opponent's hinterland.

In the 17th minute, Austria got a penalty kick opportunity-a player broke into the penalty area and was knocked down, and the referee made a decisive decision. Captain Marko Arnautovic calmly took the penalty and gave his team the lead.

After taking the lead, Austria did not slow down. Sabitzer and Sewald tried long-range shots one after another, but unfortunately they were saved by Cyprus goalkeeper Fabiano Freitas, trying to keep the goal clean in the first half.

At the beginning of the second half, Austria's offensive resumed. In the 49th minute, Schmid's header was bound to go in, but Freitas flew to resolve it. Until the 55th minute, Danso made a precise pass from the right, and Arnautovic easily scored in front of the goal, scoring twice and completely sealing the victory.

After this game, Austria has 6 wins and 1 loss from 7 games in Group H, ranking first with 18 points, 2 points ahead of second place Bosnia and Herzegovina, and firmly grasping the initiative to qualify. As long as they perform stably in the remaining games, they are very likely to return to the World Cup stage after many years.

Since Rangnick took over, Austria has not only become more solid defensively, but also more organized and efficient offensively. The German coach, who is known for his rigorous tactics, is leading this team, which has been outside the competition for a long time, to steadily move towards their road to revival.