After 20 years in the wilderness, Austria returned to the World Cup their first appearance since 1958. Helmut Senekowitsch was the man tasked with guiding them back.
| Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| 2 |
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 |
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 3 |
| 4 |
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 2 |
Reaching the second group stage was an achievement for Austria, who found the competition at that level fierce and unforgiving.
Austria experienced an inconsistent group stage, and the mixed results were not enough to go through. Their campaign featured a hard-fought 2-1 win against Spain, a hard-fought 1-0 win against Sweden, a narrow 0-1 loss to Brazil, a heavy 1-5 defeat to Netherlands, a narrow 0-1 loss to Italy, and a hard-fought 3-2 win against West Germany. Despite competing with determination in the second first round, Austria's journey ended before the final.
3won3lost
7scored10conceded
Failed to score in 2 of 6 matches advanced to the second group stage.
Hans Krankl led Austria's attack with 4 goals at the 1978 World Cup. A specialist in decisive moments, with goals in the closing stages that changed the course of matches.
The tactical mind behind Austria's 1978 campaign. Leading Austria at his first World Cup 3 wins, 3 losses under Senekowitsch.
The team employed a flexible 2-3-5 formation, allowing for both width and depth. This approach was effective in the initial wins against Spain and Sweden but ultimately proved insufficient to sustain success.
