ÖFB vs. Spain: Pressing and Ball Possession as Keys Against the Favorites

At the same time, the 30-year-old is aware of the limits of his team's own plan. „Du wirst ihn nicht zu 100 Prozent ausschalten können", he said with a view to Spanish superstar Lamine Yamal. Of the 18-year-old from FC Barcelona, the Mainz professional gushed: „Er hat alles, was einen Weltklasseflügelspieler auszeichnet – super Technik, Tempo im Eins-gegen-Eins, einen brutalen Abschluss." Grillitsch compared Yamal to the greatest in world football. „Das ist ähnlich wie bei (Kylian) Mbappe oder (Lionel) Messi, die werden Situationen haben", said outside back Phillipp Mwene.

Recipe Against Yamal: Pressing to Exhaustion

Against Lamine Yamal, however, the ÖFB team has already developed recipes of its own, according to their own statements. „Es hat uns Gewissheit gegeben, dass wir, auch wenn Spanien ein scheinbar übermächtiger Gegner ist, trotzdem die Chance haben zu gewinnen", Mwene explained. For the pressing, however, the team is supposed to push itself to its own limits. „Anders geht es nicht, sonst machst du dich kaputt", Grillitsch said. His teammate put it even more clearly: „Jeder wird rennen, bis er umfällt."

But the Austrians also know that they need phases with possession to recover. „Ich glaube, dass wir Spanien mit unserer Spielweise am ehesten ärgern können", Grillitsch said. The Austrians have not yet truly brought the great pressure on the ball-carrier to the field in the course of the World Cup so far. „Unser Pressing ist noch nicht so gut zur Geltung gekommen, aber wir wollen auf jeden Fall wieder dahinkommen", Mwene said.

Grillitsch's Role: Ball Security From Midfield

Grillitsch could play a key role in this. The Lower Austrian brings: „Das Spiel mit dem Ball ist meine Kernkompetenz", he said. His most recent national team appearance from the start was at the end of March in the friendly against Ghana (5:1). At the end of the past season, he was plagued by a muscle injury. At the beginning of the World Cup preparation camp in Vienna, there had been „einen kleinen Rückschlag", the 60-time international reported. „Ob es für die Startelf reicht, weiß ich nicht."

Under predecessor Franco Foda, Grillitsch had been only a substitute in the opener at Euro 2021, but developed into a key player after publicly expressing his displeasure about it, by the time of the Round of 16 exit against eventual European champion Italy (1:2 a.e.t.). „Es war vor einem Jahr schon so, dass der Hintergedanke da war, dass ich nur ein Jahr bleibe", Grillitsch said. He wants to ponder his future only after the tournament. „Deswegen gab es die Option."

Self-Confidence After the Algeria Drama

The self-confidence in the team is high after the last-minute drama against Algeria. „Das Spiel hat uns nochmal brutal zusammengeschweißt", said one player. „Ich verspüre mehr Vorfreude als Nervosität", another explained. The qualification drama had shown that anything is possible – no matter how hopeless a situation might seem. „Wenn wir gemeinsam als Mannschaft agieren, haben wir schon gezeigt, dass wir auch Weltklassespieler ausschalten können. Im Notfall soll dies auch im Elfmeterschießen gelingen", Mwene said.

Historic Chance: First World Cup Knockout Match Since 1954

The injury concerns in the Spanish attack around Yamal, who did not feature against Argentina (0:2) and Lionel Messi but started against Jordan (3:1) and Algeria, also play into the Austrians' hands. Mwene emphasized: „Unser Plan ist klar, unsere Identität, Energie und Intensität reinzubringen." Mwene, who started against Jordan and Algeria, could keep his place on the left side of the back four.

The Austrians see the match as a historic chance. „Wir wissen, dass es eine Riesenchance ist, auch Geschichte zu schreiben", Mwene explained. The ÖFB team is playing its first knockout match at a World Cup finals since 1954 in Los Angeles. „Jetzt sind wir erstmal hier bei der WM – hoffentlich noch länger", Grillitsch said. „Jeder von uns brennt drauf zu spielen", Mwene added. „Ich glaube, dass wir bisher noch nicht so unser wahres Gesicht gezeigt haben, wie wir es in der Qualifikation oder bei der EM hatten", said the outside back.

Before that, that had only been the case twice since Euro 2024, in March 2025 against Serbia. The Austrians are counting on their team spirit and on the return of their regulars. On Thursday evening in Los Angeles, it will be seen whether the recipe against ball world champions Spain works.