Spain midfielder Pedri is hoping Austria set up in a conventional manner when they meet in the World Cup round of 32 on Thursday.
European champions Spain eventually came through the group phase with few alarms after their opening game draw with Cape Verde.
Their final pool match was against Uruguay with opposing boss Marcelo Bielsa adopting his usual high press, high intensity gameplan in a bid to disrupt the Spanish. Bielsa’s idea caused Spain occasional issues but Alex Baena’s first-half goal was enough to see them emerge 1-0 winners.
Next up is Austria and, although Pedri is not sure whether their boss Ralf Rangnick will employ the usual tactic when facing Spain of sitting in a low block and attempting to spring forward on the counter attack, he admitted that provides more enjoyment as a player.
The Barcelona star told Mundo Deportivo: “It’s rare that a team has the ambition to want to squeeze us. Uruguay went man to man, the style of Bielsa, and made it difficult. Against us we normally find low blocks and seeing the game in front of you makes you feel better, you touch the ball more, you are more in touch with the team game.
“We still have to analyse Austria and see which game we think they are going to play. But yes, they are a national team that has been improving, with a lot of ambition in that sense.”
Spain have made tactical adjustments themselves with injuries depriving them of being able to field wing twins Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams in tandem.
The pair were hugely instrumental in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph but Williams’ injury has forced Luis de la Fuente to play Baena, who is more of an attacking midfielder than out-an-out wideman.
Pedri added: “At the Euros we had Nico and Lamine Yamal very wide on the wings and we made the pitch big. Now we have had injuries, things that happen in football, and we have to try to change.
“The profile of Baena is not that of a winger who finds space, he tries more to get inside, but you have to adapt. We know that even if we don’t have those two wingers, Baena is doing very well.”
The absence of Williams has placed even more emphasis on giving the ball to Yamal, creating a problem for Austria left-back Phillip Mwene.
The Mainz defender said: ”He has everything that distinguishes a world-class winger – great technique and pace in the one-on-one.
“You won’t be able to keep him quiet 100% of the time. This is similar to [Kylian] Mbappe or [Lionel] Messi, who will have moments.
“In a one-on-one you can hardly stop Yamal. We have to try to create situations where we have lots of players around him and leave him as little space as possible.
“If we act together as a team, we have already shown that we can eliminate world-class players.”
Austria had to rely on a 96th-minute goal from Sasa Kalajdzic to salvage a 3-3 draw against Algeria and secure a place in the knockout rounds.
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World Cup 2026: Spain v Austria team news
Spain are likely be without Yeremy Pino (shoulder), Williams (adductor) and Victor Munoz (thigh). Baena should retain his place on the left side of midfield. Fabian Ruiz may come in for Mikel Merino.
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