Austria - Euro 2008 Team Profile

Mike Tuckerman reports...

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Road to Switzerland / Austria

The pressure on Austria to perform at Euro 2008 is immense, despite the team's poor performances over the past five years. Incredibly the Austrians are making their debut at the European Championship, and they do so as co-hosts of this year's tournament.

Austria's recent results make for depressing reading – in 2007 they drew with Malta, Ghana, Paraguay, Czech Republic, Japan (before losing on penalties) and Tunisia, as well as losing to France, Scotland, Chile, Switzerland and England. Indeed Austria's only recent win came in a 3-2 victory over the Ivory Coast in October of last year, but normal service was resumed when they were thumped 3-0 by Germany in Vienna on February 6.

Analysis

Drawn in the same group as historical rivals Germany, Poland and Croatia, Austria will need to rely on home support if they are to have any chance of making it beyond the group stage.

Bereft of any stand-out individual talent, Austria rely on seasoned professionals like Siena goalkeeper Alex Manninger, Spartak Moscow defender Martin Stranzl and captain Andrian Ivanschnitz, who plays his club football with Greek giants Panathinaikos.

Coach Josef Hickersberger has already been forced to mend bridges after Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz launched a scathing attack on both Hickersberger and captain Ivanschnitz. Pogatetz has since been welcomed back to the fold after a 17-month absence, however 27-year-old Wigan Athletic midfielder Paul Scharner has retired from international football claiming that the Austrian set-up is "a shambles."

On the pitch Austria look particularly vulnerable in attack. For years they've struggled to find a replacement for legendary former striker Toni Polster, with Sporting Braga front man Roland Linz coming under constant fire for his performances in an Austrian jersey. Other alternatives are few and far between, with veteran Sturm Graz man Mario Haas potentially in line for an international recall.

Key player: Emanuel Pogatetz

Long gone are the days when Austria could rely on a playmaker of the calibre of Andreas Herzog. These days Austria rely more on graft than guile, and despite his outburst against coach Hickersberger, Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz is one of the few Austrians to possess genuine big-match experience.

One to watch: Martin Harnik

The German-born Werder Bremen striker qualifies for the national team thanks to an Austrian father, and the 20-year-old scored just six minutes into his Austria debut after coming off the bench in a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in August 2007.

Coach

59-year-old Josef Hickersberger is perhaps best remembered as the man in charge when Austria were beaten 1-0 by the Faroe Islands in a European Championship qualifier in 1991. He's enjoyed little success since taking over the reins of the national team for a second time in 2006, although Austria did at least record a 2-1 win over fellow Euro 2008 co-host Switzerland with Hickersberger in charge.

Recent Previous Tournaments

1996: Did not qualify
2000: Did not qualify
2004: Did not qualify

Soccerphile says .....

In spite of their less than flattering recent record, expectations are running high among Austrian fans. Should the Austrians lose their opening match against Croatia it will be a case of damage limitation, however, with a decent showing against bitter arch-rivals Germany perhaps the best that Austria can hope for.

Euro 2008 Squad

Bet on Euro 2008

Goalkeepers Alex Manninger (Siena), Juergen Macho (AEK Athens), Helge Payer (Rapid Vienna)
Defenders Andreas Dober (Rapid Vienna), Gyoergy Garics (Napoli), Ronald Gercaliu (Austria Vienna), Martin Hiden (Austria Kaernten), Andreas Ibertsberger (1899 Hoffenheim), Markus Katzer (Rapid Vienna), Juergen Patocka (Rapid Vienna), Emanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough), Sebastian Proedl (Sturm Graz), Franz Schiemer (Austria Vienna), Martin Stranzl (Spartak Moscow)
Midfielders Rene Aufhauser (Red Bull Salzburg), Christoph Leitgeb (Red Bull Salzburg), Christian Fuchs (SV Mattersburg), Martin Harnik (Werder Bremen), Andreas Ivanschitz (Panathinaikos Athens), Umit Korkmaz (Rapid Vienna), Juergen Saeumel (Sturm Graz), Joachim Standfest (Austria Vienna), Ivica Vastic (LASK Linz), Markus Weissenberger (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Forwards Erwin Hoffer (Rapid Vienna), Roman Kienast (Ham-Kam), Marc Janko (Red Bull Salzburg), Sanel Kuljic (Austria Vienna), Roland Linz (SC Braga), Stefan Maierhofer (SK Rapid Vienna)

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