Soccer-Austria bench veteran striker Arnautovic for World Cup opener v Jordan


Soccer Football - International Friendly - Austria v Tunisia - Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria - June 1, 2026 Austria's Marko Arnautovic applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Lisa Leutner

SANTA ⁠CLARA, CALIFORNIA, June 16 (Reuters) - Austria's all-time top ⁠goal-scorer Marko Arnautovic has been left ‌on the bench, with Sasa Kalajdzic starting in attack in their Group J World Cup opener against debutants Jordan ​on Tuesday.

• Austria coach Ralf ⁠Rangnick has opted ⁠for Romano Schmid, Xaver Schlager and Marcel Sabitzer ⁠in ‌a three-pronged attack behind Kalajdzic.

• Captain David Alaba will start in defence ⁠after playing no part in Austria's final ​two World ‌Cup qualifiers.

• The match marks the end ⁠of Austria's ​28-year exile from the World Cup.

• Striker Ali Olwan and talismanic winger Mousa Al-Tamari start in ⁠attack for Jordan, with key ​forward Yazan Al-Naimat ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury after scoring eight ⁠goals in qualification.

Austria: Alexander Schlager, David Alaba, Philipp Lienhart, Phillipp Mwene, Stefan Posch, Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald, Konrad Laimer, Marcel Sabitzer, Romano ​Schmid, Sasa Kalajdzic

Jordan: Yazeed Abu ⁠Laila, Abdullah Nasib, Yazan Al‑Arab, Mohammad Abu Al‑Nadi, ​Noor Al‑Rawabdeh, Nizar Al‑Rashdan, ‌Mousa Al‑Tamari, Ali Olwan, Ehsan ​Haddad, Muhannad Abu Taha, Ouda Al‑Fakhouri

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Toby Davis)

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