Austria vs Israel Prediction: Betting Tips & Odds

Austria and Israel open their UEFA Nations League campaigns in Linz on Friday morning New Zealand time, in a League B group that also holds Kosovo and the Republic of Ireland.

Austria have home advantage, though Ralf Rangnick has taken his squad apart and reassembled it since the World Cup. Israel haven’t played since the start of June.

In this Austria vs Israel preview I go through form, team news and why the goals markets interest me a lot more than the result does.

I’ve got a combination priced above $3.00, which is worth a look if you’re comparing the best legal betting sites in New Zealand.

Austria

Austria had a good World Cup, whatever the ending suggested.

A 3-1 win over Jordan, a 2-0 loss to Argentina and a 3-3 draw with Algeria was enough for second in Group J. Then came Spain in the round of 32 in Los Angeles. Austria lost 3-0, managed five shots and put none of them on target.

Their squad for this window is close to unrecognisable. Rangnick called up 27 players, six of them without a senior cap and nine who weren’t at the World Cup, and he was clear that the approach isn’t changing. Counter-pressing is still the measure of all things, in his words.

Michael Gregoritsch is the most experienced forward in camp on 78 caps and 24 goals. Sasa Kalajdzic is back after a summer move home to LASK, and I like the look of Paul Wanner in the number 10 role.

They only assembled in Windischgarsten on Monday.

Team News: Alaba is without a club after leaving Real Madrid and isn’t involved. Sabitzer has taken a break from international football. Arnautovic retired after the World Cup on 137 caps. Wober returns having missed the tournament injured.

Predicted Lineup: Schlager; Posch, Danso, Lienhart, Mwene; Laimer, Seiwald; Wimmer, Wanner, Prass; Gregoritsch.

Israel

I can’t see Israel winning in Linz. But I can very easily see them scoring.

Their World Cup qualifying campaign finished with third place in a group won by Norway, and goals flew in both directions the whole way through it. Israel lost 5-4 to Italy last September, conceded eight across two away trips in October, then signed off with a 4-1 win over Moldova.

Since then, two friendlies. A 2-2 draw in Tbilisi in March and a 1-0 win in Tirana on 3 June, followed by nearly four months of nothing.

Oscar Gloukh is their most creative player by a distance, and Anan Khalaily has started the season well in the Premier League at Crystal Palace. Manor Solomon adds a bit of top-level experience on the left.

Ran Ben Shimon has named an extended group for four fixtures in 11 days, so expect heavy rotation across the window.

Team News: Blorian is out injured, which left them thin at centre-back and brought Shteifman in as cover. Dasa captains the side. Toklomati is a third option up front.

Predicted Lineup: Peretz; Dasa, Nachmias, Shlomo, Revivo; Gandelman, Kanichowsky; Khalaily, Gloukh, Solomon; Baribo.

• Austria have won two and lost two of their four meetings with Israel since 2019.
• Each of those four games produced at least four goals.
• Israel have played twice in 2026, both friendlies.
• Austria have not competed in League A since the 2022-23 edition.
• Austria failed to win either leg of their promotion play-off against Serbia in March 2025.
• Israel went into the League B draw as a top seed, with Austria a pot below them.

I’m on Austria, and I’m expecting the ball in both nets.

Nine new or returning faces and three days on the training ground is not the recipe for a watertight defensive display, and Israel have scored in every one of the last four meetings between these two. Even the 4-2 defeat in Klagenfurt in 2021 had them on the scoresheet twice.

Against that, Israel have been idle since June and their back line leaked badly in qualifying. Austria at home should have far too much for them over 90 minutes.

2-1 feels about right, and I wouldn’t be shocked by 3-1. I’m nowhere near confident enough in a clean sheet either way to touch the under.

If you’re hunting betting bonuses to cover a multi this week, the goals markets are where I’d use them.

Austria to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $3.20

Straight Austria at $1.36 is no use to anybody.

Israel scored four times against Italy in a qualifier they lost, so they don’t turn up and defend for the full 90.

Austria’s back four is the part I trust least. Danso and Lienhart are established, but both full-back slots are open and Israel’s quicker forwards will get their moments in the channels.

At $3.20 I’m taking it. Most of the best live sports betting sites in New Zealand will let you trade out in-play if Austria go two up early.