Greece vs. Austria: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

Although many European players are set to begin their club seasons, national teams around the world are getting back together for an important round of international friendlies before the conclusion of World Cup qualifying.

Among those matches is a contest between Austria and Greece, two teams looking to earn a trip to Brazil through UEFA qualifying.

Austria is in the midst of a competitive battle in Group C. While Germany has a decent advantage for first place in the group, Austria is currently tied with Sweden and Ireland in the fight for second place, which provides a spot in the final playoff.

Meanwhile, Greece is in good position to claim at least second place with a four-point advantage over Slovakia. However, it remains behind Bosnia-Herzegovina for the top spot in Group G.

In September, both teams will continue trying to reach the World Cup, so it is important to prepare for it with this friendly. Here is a guide to what you need to know about the match.

When: Aug. 14 at 2:30 p.m. ET

Where: Red Bull Arena, Salzburg, Austria

TV: Gol TV (United States) ORF 1 (Austria) 

Live Stream: GolTV.tv

Greece Player to Watch: Kostas Mitroglou

The Greek squad is a bit shorthanded in this matchup, so it needs some players to step up on the attack.

One of those expected to have a big role is Kostas Mitroglou. The Olympiakos forward has been coming on as a sub in most matches for his national team, but he is usually good enough to make an impact at some point.

Based on his play against top competition, it would not be surprising if he earned a start in this friendly to show what he can do.

Mitroglou has a nice finishing touch and would be a huge help to a squad that has struggled to score at times over the past year. 

Austria Player to Watch: David Alaba

If David Alaba plays in this contest, it will make a huge difference toward the outcome.

He has already begun Bundesliga play for Bayern Munich, but the defender is one of the best young players in the world at his position and is vital for Austria to be successful.

The 21-year-old is solid defensively with enough pace to cover a lot of ground. However, he is even more impressive on the attack as someone who can set up teammates with crosses or finish himself. He is also very good at penalties if that comes up.

In order for Greece to win, the entire team will need to know where Alaba is at all times.

Prediction: Greece 1, Austria 0

While Austria will have a nice boost from the home crowd throughout the match, Greece is much stronger defensively, and it will be difficult for the hosting team to get too many quality opportunities in the final third.

In six World Cup qualifying matches, Greece has only given up four goals in six matches, with three of them coming against Bosnia-Herzegovina. 

If these side can get enough of an attack going to get onto the scoresheet, the defense should be able to hold on for the win.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.