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Spain and Austria meet on Thursday evening at SoFi Stadium with a place in the last 16 on the line — and a potential blockbuster tie against either Portugal or Croatia waiting in the next round. The reigning European champions finished top of Group H to set up a clash with Das Team, who took a credible second place in Group J behind holders Argentina.
Tipped by many of the best World Cup betting sites to cruise through as Group H winners, Spain ultimately did just that — albeit not without an early wobble. After a frustrating opening draw with Cape Verde, Luis de la Fuente’s side collected seven points from nine and, remarkably, conceded no goals at all.
The bookies are unsurprising backing the European champions in this one with William Hill pricing them at 2/7 while Austria are 10/1 with Paddy Power and a draw is 9/2 with Sky Bet. You can also find more betting offers at the Mirror Betting Hubs Free Bets offers.
Their group-stage progress was sealed at the expense of Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay, as an Alex Baena strike earned a 1-0 win on the final matchday. However, it was Spain’s defensive resilience that truly stood out.
La Roja have kept a perfect clean-sheet record in North America so far and are yet to face a first-half shot on target. Even more impressively, they have not allowed more than six shots in any of their last five World Cup matches — only the second side to achieve that since 1966, after Argentina in 2022.
Spain’s unbeaten run in all competitions (excluding penalty shootout defeats) now stretches to 34 matches — one short of their national record set between 2007 and 2009, and edging closer to the men’s international all-time mark.
While Spain’s contest with Uruguay was short on chances, Austria were involved in one of the group stage’s most dramatic finales. Ralf Rangnick’s side scraped into the last 32 in thrilling fashion, surviving by the narrowest of margins.
Austria looked set to be punished if Riyad Mahrez’s brace for Algeria held up, which would have left them third due to an inferior goal difference behind Senegal. Instead, towering forward Sasa Kalajdzic headed in a 96th-minute equaliser to secure a 3-3 draw and keep Austria’s tournament alive.
By finishing second on goal difference ahead of Algeria — who also went through — Austria also claimed a quirky piece of World Cup history: they became the first team to avoid defeat in a World Cup match after conceding in second-half stoppage time.
One key figure for Austria is Konrad Laimer, who has enjoyed an outstanding season at Bayern Munich in an inverted full-back role. Not a showman, the 28-year-old keeps play ticking over and reads danger superbly — and Austria may need him at his sharpest wherever Rangnick chooses to use him.
- Spain and both teams to score – 21/10 ( William Hill )
- Lamine Yamal to score/assist anytime – 1/2 ( Sky Bet )
18+ | Gamble responsibly | gambleaware.org | Odds subject to change
Spain’s defence is peaking at the right time, as Luis de la Fuente faces attacking injury doubts over Yeremy Pino (shoulder), Nico Williams (adductor) and Victor Munoz (thigh). Munoz is the likeliest to make it, while Alex Baena should keep his place after his winner against Uruguay.
The main call is in midfield: Mikel Merino started last time out, but Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo and Gavi are all pushing to come in.
Austria have minor knee issues for Marko Arnautovic and David Alaba after the Algeria thriller, but nothing serious. Kevin Danso and Michael Gregoritsch are on standby if needed, and Sasa Kalajdzic is still unlikely to start.
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