Austria
They came into the tournament as somewhat of a dark horse after a brilliant run in the qualifiers. Indeed, with 27 points from a possible 30, they conjured up the most points in the qualifiers after England.
However, despite such a magnificent team effort, it can’t be denied that the Austrians have only one star man: David Alaba.
The Bayern Munich midfielder-cum-defender is one of the most talented players in the world and is certainly the best among the current crop of footballers that his country has produced. Comfortable both in midfield and defense, he is a highly versatile player who does a commendable job regardless of where he plays.
For Bayern, he played in the center of defense last season. And for his nation, he is a powerful box-to-box midfielder. His ability to be effective in multiple positions in itself makes him a standout player—the only that Austria have right now.
