Turkey and to a certain extent Coratia and Russia have proved that you don’t always need a team full of overpaid stars to have a succesful campaign. It remains to be seen if any of them go all the way, but some gallant Austrian fan’s will still of been thinking that could of been us, and ultimatley its the coach who pays the price of failure.

Hickersberger has decided to call time on his second spell in charge, after Austria bowed out in the group stages behind Germany and Croatia, with only 1 point.

Hickersberger meanwhile claimed tiredness and the need for some time off to recharge the batteries, as his reasoning behind quitting. 

A record of only 5 victories of the 27 matches he was in charge of could well of been enough to see his repsonsibilities relinquished, his contract up for discussion in 6 months time as it is.

The terms not every fan would tend to agree with “We played very well even sensationally some of the time, but we didn’t reach the quarterfinals and didn’t accomplish our common goal,” were the managers views of the 3 games

The team starts its World Cup qualifying campaign against France in Vienna on 6 September, and will hope to find someone in that time to take up the mantle

Conceded 3 goals in the 3 games, was faultless to any of them. Made some decent stops and was commanding enough round the area. 7

Garics

A high work rate and solid defensively, offered little in the attacking third though in the 2 appearances he made. 6

Stranzl

May of caught the eye with some sound defensive performances, although will need to do better with hi distribution. 7

Hiden

Used as a replacement for Prodl in the final game and only lasted 55 mins, wasn’t good enough. 4

Pogatetz

Had it not been for his lack of discipline in the opening game with Croatia, may well of been Austria’s best player. But generally sound defensively maybe showed an extra bit of class with his distribution and a definite danger at set pieces. 6

Harnik

An ever present and was well needed by the Austrians, well accomplished on the ball and always busy, failed to capitalise though like so many of his team mates going forward. 6

Aufhauser

Started all 3 games, was withdrawn though and will be haunted by the penalty he clumsily gave away against Croatia that ultimately cost his team. 5

Ivanschitz

Geared up as the Austrian Beckham, but failed to light. Happy enough taking free kicks and corners, and a trusty left food, but didn’t do enough to warrant his tag nor to aid his team mates with killer crosses, disappointing. 6

Fuchs 1

A rather quiet appearance, no faulting the effort though but players are judged on what the achieve, and this was very little. 5

Korkmaz

At times during the tournament has threatened with his attacking flare and ability to run at defenders failed to find an end product all to often. 6

Hoffer

A lively game against Germany for the youngster, didn’t give the Germans time on the ball. With a but of composure he could well of troubled the scorers. Other Austrian strikers could do worse than to watch Hoffer for an attacking idea! 6

Leitgeb

Another with high hopes at the start of the season that failed to capitalise on his opportunity. All to little to late, distribution not up to a high enough standard, had to make do with more time on the bench. 5

Kienast

Questionable why he wasn’t in from the start at all, 3 substitute appearances each of which saw him cause more impact than his predecessors. Came close to goals on a few occasions, his added height was a burden to opposition defenders. 6

Saumel

Often toyed with making an impact, but never quite managed to find the right combination or make the right choices, looked more of a danger when used from the bench. Picked up a booking for his troubles. 5

Linz

2 very lacklustre appearances, lead the line and failed to make any impact. Will of done his reputation more bad than good. 4

Vastic

2 substitute appearances, but netted the last minute penalty and became the oldest Euro Championships scorer in the process. 6

Proedl

Managed 2 appearances and with it the winning of a penalty to grab their only goal and point, did manage 2 bookings which ruled him out of the final game 6

Standfest

Failed to reappear n the pitch following the defeat by Croatia, never got to grips with the speed of the game and it passed him by very quickly, will be disappointed 5

Gercaliu

Another not used after managing to play so badly in the opening game, will e hoping for further chances in his Austrian campaign to make amends. 5

Josef Hickersberger

Will feel his team went close but the lack of quality in his squad wasn’t quite up to the scratch. However, the job is based on results, and he failed to deliver enough to warrant doing a good job. Showed some alligence to some of his stars who really failed to respond. 5

Josef Hickersberger highlighted on this blog that Michael Ballack would be the danger man and he was proved right, but he was left helplessy watching as the Chelsea star crashed home a wonderful 30yard free kick.

Germany certainly had the better chances Mario Gomez guilty of a glaring 2 yard miss very early on, but there emphasis was certainly more on defending, rather than looking for the goals to seal them victory. But as has been the pattern for Austria during the tournament, they defended solidly, but failed to make much of an impct on the offensive. The same could not be said for both managers, both Low and Hickersberger were dispatched to the stands for part of the game after ongoing rumblings with the 4th official.

Austrian knew they needed to win to get through and heads did drop, Ivanschitz had an oppotunity blocked, but it was Germany who finished stronger, Klose and Frings both denied by Macho who himself struggled with injury late n after a collision with Klose. Late substitue Oliver Neuville also went agonisingly close but fired wide.

The Austrians know they were probably a few levels of quality away from being real contenders, they’re graft ad effort could not be faulted, but a distint lack of class, especially on the attack let them down, they only managed 1 goal, a late pen against Poland and to be fair on paper their group was not one of the hardest, although some may suggest the winner could come from their group! The lack of competitive games in the build up may be pointed to, some of the players maybe will feel they didn’t do themselves justice.

The final set of games all kick off at the same time, to avoid any advantage being gained. Austria will have to play the game of their life against a wounded giant in Germany. Doubts over Lahm and Podolski have been cleared, they are expected to start, although the petulance of Bastian Schweinsteiger has cost him his place, and possibly in any further games, the manager openly critical of his actions.

If Austria do make it to the next stages Umit Korkmaz, Jurgen Saumel and Emanuel Pogatetz are one yellow card shy of a suspension, and will hope to avoid a second thus ruling them out of the quarter finals. Austria themselves are already missing Seb Proedl through suspension, former Leeds defender Martin Hiden is tipped to replace him and pick up his 50^th cap. Roland Linz has been replaced in both games by Roman Kienast and must sweat it out to see if he is given a 3 chance to shine, against the strongest team in the group. In fact, Kienasts uncle, Reinard scored twice the last time Austria beat Germany, a friendly in ’86, 4-1, so will be hoping for the chance to emulate his relative.

Josef Hickersberger has earmarked Michael Ballack as a potent threat and may opt to man mark him with Aufhauser, however, with the German side littered with dangermen, stopping the skipper may only be part of the task in hand. To sum up what could be a nail biting finale, the older Austrian fans amoungst us will be hoping for a repeat of the final group stage in the 1978 World Cup, Germany requiring just a point, were beaten and eliminated by Austria! Manager Josef Hickersberger was a member of the winning Austrian squad.

Austria will be bhoyed by Croatia’s display knowing that the Germans are not the invincible team everyone had first thought, and that going into the final game there is still all to play for. In fairness the Austrian outfit were the better side, but, as in the opening game, were unable to make their advantage count or effect the score board. Once again going forward, Roland Linz failed to deliver and was replaced by the more effective Kienast. And when they did eventually score it was another substitute 38 year old, and now record breaking Vastic who converted. The oldest Euro championships scorer ever.

Poland owed a lot to Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boric as he continued to single handedly hold Austria at bay, denying a string of Austrian oppotunities, Martin Harnik was guilty of some glaring misses. Poland were solid, but as an attacking force will need to improve if they are to have any chance of beating the already qualified Croatians, there goal came from one of their few chances, Roger Guerreiro converting from close range, albeit suspiciously off side and that had seemed to be enough to send Austria on the same route as their fellow co hosts and out of the competition.

But Webb’s late intervention, his well judged decision to award a pen after Lewandowski had fouled Proedl, much to the Polish coaching staff’s disbelief, and Vastic held his nerve to convert and send the Austrian support delierious, even though they still have a mountain to climb. Polands hopes rest on Boruc being able to continue his excellent form, but they will have to imrpve dramatically going forward. Austria will hope to find the killer touch to add to the rest of there relatively well drilled team. And as we saw earlier in the day, you never can be too sure whats going to happen.

After their defeat against Croatia, which saw their chances of qualifying from Group B start to slip away from their hands, a brewery from Vienna promised a free lifelong beer supply to any hosts’ player that scores a goal in the remaining two group matches. One of these matches was yesterday’s match against Poland, and the lucky player to get free beer for life is Vastic. The brewery is called Ottakringer Brauerei AG. Austria’s chances of qualifying are still remote even though they got their first point in Euro 2008 on Thursday against the Poles. To qualify, the Austrians must beat super-power Germany, which would in turn be eliminated themselves after being tipped favourites to win the tournament. Croatia have their place in their quarter-finals secure as they won their first two matches.

“Maybe this is the kind of motivation that will give them the last kick our team needs to be successful.” -  Sigi Menz, CEO of Ottakringer Brauerei AG

FIRST HALF

Second Half

Austria have fought hard all the match to find a penalty in the dying minutes just like Turkey beat Switzerland in the 92 minute. Austria have levelled the match in the 92 minute from Vastic and there is practically no time left for Poland to snatch an unlikely winner. However, Austria may count themselves ’stupid’ after failing to take the lead on numerous occasions in the early periods of the first half. Austria looked better than their performance against shining Croatia and they looked strong mentally on the pitch although they were also slightly unlucky against an in-form Boruc.

Austria Can Qualify To The Quarter-Finals SHOULD they beat Germany

Highly Unlikely but Austria can get through to the quarter IF they beat Germany in their final match. The Germans lost to Croatia today and that leaves Croatia qualified and Germany on 3 points. Austria are on 1 point as well as Poland. Austria need the 3 points to finish just one point above Germany and pull the shockest result but it is a dreaming result that can only happens when pigs start flying.

However thumbs up for Austria’s Performance…great match from the co-hosts…at least there is still some excitement amongst one host-nation…surprisingly by the host which fans had said that they themselves are losers and will shame the nation by taking part in the tournament.

 Its sure to be a tight affair with the Poles, as a defeat for either team would spell defeat. A draw would leave a near impossible scenario for Austria, the Polish would have to beat Croatia and so would be the happier. But with both teams looking for the win, and both teams wanting to avoid defeat, the neutral will be hoping for an open game, but the lack of firepower could well see a stalemate.

 Austria are yet to find the right blend, maybe the lack of competitive games in the build up cost them in trying to work out their strongest line up, Linz has high expectations and links to the English Premiership, but if the opening game is anything to go by he may well not make the starting XI, let alone score. The route one certainly proved more fruitful, the addition of Kienast up top proved a real handful for Croatia.

The Polish are missing some big names, ex Celtic star  and skipper Zurawski is out. Although in Smolerek they have the Euro’s top qualified scorer in qualifying, David Healy having not qualified with Northern Ireland. He’ll miss the final game if he is booked.

Its sure to be an enthralling game, albeit one that people may look at on paper as not a glamour ties. The hosts will hold out in hope rather than expectation, as the Polish are certainly no pushovers.

 ………..

 Modric himself wasn’t at his best, but in a lacklustre Croatian side he shone, the extent of their excurstions though were all to plain to see as a host of Slaven Bilic’s side slumped to the ground at the full time whistle

Austria provided a stern test as Croatia kicked off their Euro 2008 campaign with a 1-0 victory in Group B.

Luka Modric scored the only goal with a penalty in the fourth minute after Rene Aufhauser clumsy challenge on Ivica Olic .

Croatia started the better side, but once the goal had gone in Austria woke up and began to apply some pressure, but they missed a number of opportunities to draw level.

The momentum stayed with Austria after the break and continued to build as, roared on by their home crowd in Vienna, they pinned Croatia back.

The introduction of subs for both sides failed to change the flow of the game, Austria were solid but not very enlightening and in Ivanschitz they had hoped for more. Croatia held there own, but will come up against stronger sides who could punish their hesitency at the back.

Stipe Pletikosa parried away Umit Korkmaz’s effort moments from the end as Croatia clung on to pick up three points and leave Austria with an uphill task to reach the quarter-finals, another defeat will spell the end of their tournament and huge disappointment.

 Austria face Poland next, while Croatia tackle Germany, so either way the group will go down to the final round of games.

Austria: Macho, Prodl, Stranzl, Pogatetz, Aufhauser, Saumel (Vastic 61), Standfest, Gercaliu (Korkmaz 69), Ivanschitz, Harnik, Linz (Kienast 73).
Subs Not Used: Manninger, Ozcan, Katzer, Garics, Patocka, Hiden, Fuchs, Leitgeb, Hoffer.

Booked: Pogatetz, Saumel, Prodl.

Croatia: Pletikosa, Corluka, Robert Kovac, Simunic, Pranjic, Srna, Nico Kovac, Modric, Kranjcar (Knezevic 61), Olic (Vukojevic 82), Petric (Budan 72).
Subs Not Used: Galinovic, Runje, Simic, Vejic, Rakitic, Pokrivac, Leko, Kalinic, Klasnic.

Booked: Robert Kovac.

Goals: Modric 4 pen.

Ref: Pieter Vink (Holland).