Austria coach Ralf Rangnick gave no clues as to his starting side but said he had settled on the 11 for Jordan last week. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Austria coach Ralf Rangnick is wary that his team could become the latest European nation to ​be thwarted by sides from the Asian confederation at the World Cup if ‌it fails to bring its best against debutant Jordan on Tuesday.

Czechia lost 2-1 to South Korea last week before ⁠Australia spoilt Turkey’s return to the World Cup stage by securing a 2-0 victory.

Japan then came back twice to draw 2-2 with the Netherlands on Sunday, and ‌Group B favourite Switzerland was held 1-1 by Qatar, four years after the Gulf nation crashed out winless as 2022 host.

“We ‌have seen many surprises during this World Cup,” Rangnick told reporters ‌on ⁠Monday at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, where it ⁠faces Jordan in its Group J opener.

“If you looked at the matches and the outcomes, we had 12 draws and only six victories. There was no South American team ​that won.

“This is not going to ‌be a walkover. It’s going to be an uncomfortable opponent. The opponent will try to lure you in, absorb the pressure, and then it will try to use the open space for its counter-attacks.

“This ‌is what we expect from them tomorrow.”

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Austria will end a 28-year ​absence from the global showpiece against Jordan, two years after an encouraging run at Euro 2024, where it topped its ⁠group before losing to Turkey in the last 16.

Starting well against Jordan may prove critical if it is to advance from a tough group that ‌also features Algeria and champion Argentina.

Austria suffered a pre-tournament blow with the loss of central midfielder Christoph Baumgartner to a thigh injury, a player who embodies the side’s aggressive pressing game.

Rangnick gave no clues as to his starting side but said he had settled on the 11 for Jordan last week and that his entire squad had a clean bill of ‌health.

With the match to kick off at 9 p.m. in the crisp Bay Area ​evening, players may have little need to pause in each half for the contentious hydration breaks, but Rangnick is a ⁠fan of them.

“It is positive for me as a coach, because I can ⁠talk to the players, I can give them some advice, and I think there are going to be approximately 65,000 people tomorrow ‌in the stadium,” the German said.

“It’s going to be very noisy, so I can’t really reach the players and talk to them (otherwise).

“So, ​this is going to be an advantage that the team can regroup.”

Published on Jun 16, 2026