In-form Austria present toughest possible start for Scotland in the quest for Qatar

the end of a fine playing career, a then 34-yearold Franco Foda likely realised retirement beckoned when he was part of a Sturm Graz defence torn apart in a 5-0 Champions League defeat by Rangers at Ibrox.

More than 20 years later, the German returns to Glasgow with his reputation as a coach very much in the ascendancy at the helm of an Austrian squad who will pose the stiffest of opening night tests for Scotland as 2022 World Cup qualifyingbeginsathampden.since taking charge of Austria in the aftermath of their failed bid to reach the 2018 finals, Foda has had a transformational effect.

He boasts 19 wins and seven defeats from his 29 matches in chargewhichhaveseenaustria qualify for the Euro 2020 finals andwintheirmostrecentuefa Nations League group. They have won 12 and lost only two of their last 16 games. While they are the second seeds in Group F, Austria may represent the greatest challenge Steve Clarke’s side will face on the road to Qatar.

Foda made almost 500 top flight appearances in his playtowards ing career, most of it in his homelandwithkaiserslautern, Bayer Leverkusen and VFB Stuttgart.

After a lengthy association with Sturm Graz. Foda hung up his boots at the end of the 2000-01 season which included that 5-0 drubbing at Ibrox. He immediately moved on to the coaching staff and had three spells in charge. The Austrians boast top level experience and quality throughout their ranks, most of it currently operating in the German Bundesliga.

Aleksandar Dragovic is an imposing presence at the heart of defence, while ahead of the 86-times capped Bayer Leverkusen player, Eintracht Frankfurt’sstefanilsankerprovidessolidityinmidfield.there is also no shortage of attacking flair in that department from the likes of Bayern Munich star David Alaba and RB Leipzig’s Marcel Sabitzer.

Adrian Grbic, who plays in France for Lorient, has scored in each of Austria’s last three games after coming on as an impact substitute and could be handedonlyhissecondstarting appearance but Sasa Kalajdzic iscurrentlythetopscorerinthe Bundesliga this season with 13 goals for VFB Stuttgart.