Euro 2008
Euro 2008 Who’s Who - AUSTRIA
Austria are the weakest nation in Euro 2008 but the co-hosts will want to put on a good show for their fans. Mike Martin analyses their squad.
Coach
Josef HICKERSBERGER: 60-year-old who took Austria to the Italia ‘90 World Cup, where they were knocked out in the group stage by Italy and Czechoslovakia. Returned in January 2006 but is yet to instill any kind of feeling in the host country that their team have the slightest chance of reaching the quarter finals. Is doing as well as can be expected with a poor group of players.
Goalkeepers
Jürgen MACHO (AEK Athens): Former Sunderland goalkeeper and Chelsea misfit who swallowed his tongue in the friendly against England last November. Second choice behind Manninger.
Alex MANNINGER (Siena): Recently saved a penalty from Marco Materazzi that delayed Inter’s title celebrations by a week. Former second-choice at Arsenal behind David Seaman, now a regular with the Serie A also-rans.
Ramazan ÖZCAN (1899 Hoffenheim): Young goalkeeper of Turkish descent. Brought into the squad to cover for Helge Payer who has a virus. Was on loan from Red Bull Salzburg but will move permanently on July 1.
Defenders
Györgi GARICS (Napoli): Hungarian-born first-choice right-back plying his trade in Serie A. Pronounced ‘George Gorritch’, if any commentators are reading this.
Ronald GËRÇALIU (Austria Vienna): The left-back is another foreign-born Austrian defender, this time from Albania. Will be first choice on the left if Pogatetz starts at centre-back.
Martin HIDEN (Rapid Vienna): Former Leeds Utd central defender is now a 35-year-old stalwart and can provide experience and a cool head coming on from the bench. Has styled himself as the world’s first carbon-neutral footballer, presumably as Austrian sides rarely stay in the UEFA Cup for long. Has been on loan at Austria Kärnten.
Markus KATZER (Rapid Vienna): Left-back likely to warm the bench in the presence of Pogatetz and Gérçaliu.
Jürgen PATOCKA (Rapid Vienna): Tall central defender unlikely to force his way into the starting line-up.
Emanuel POGATETZ (Middlesbrough): Austria’s best defensive player is a popular player and regular starter at the Riverside Stadium. Can play in the middle but likely to start at left back in order to allow Hickersberger to field an experienced back four.
Sebastien PRÖDL (Sturm Graz): Likely central-defensive partner for Martin Stranzl should Pogatetz start on the left. One of Austria’s better and more authoritative players, he will join Werder Bremen after the championship.
Martin STRANZL (Spartak Moscow): The Germany game will be on the 28th birthday of this central defender, likely to start alongside Prödl. Strong leader who has benefitted from leaving Austria’s abysmal domestic league at 17, playing in Germany and now Russia.
Midfielders
René AUFHAUSER (Red Bull Salzburg): Austria’s strongest holding midfielder and a dead cert for the first XI. Has a good goalscoring record despite his position and the poor quality of his team-mates.
Christian FUCHS (Mattersburg): The long-term successor of Stefan Kuntz and Rafael Scheidt as every commentator’s worst nightmare; happily for the English media, he is not guaranteed a starting place on the left of midfield. The youngster has a strong shot and can play as a wing-back, though Austria have better alternatives for that position.
Andreas IVANSCHITZ (Red Bull Salzburg): Austria’s star player, a left-footed attacking midfielder whose long-range shot so embarrassed David James in England’s World Cup qualifying away-day in September 2004. Has gained UEFA Cup experience on loan at the Athens side Panathinaikos.
Ümit KORKMAZ (Rapid Vienna): Young midfielder of Turkish descent; it is hoped that he will gain experience in this tournament to strengthen future Austrian sides who have to struggle through qualifying campaigns.
Christoph LEITGEB (Red Bull Salzburg): 23-year-old wide midfielder who can do a job on either side. Comfortable on the ball but lacks the ability to create. Nevertheless, he was one of Hickersberger’s young prodigies and could start on the right of a midfield four.
Jürgen SÄUMEL (Sturm Graz): Club captain with potential at 23, one of the few players who will bother the scouts of Europe’s bigger clubs. Provides cover at the foot of a midfield diamond for Aufhauser.
Joachim STANDFEST (Austria Vienna): Right-sided midfielder who can also fill in at right-back, he is one of Austria’s most dependable players; apt as his surname is German for ‘reliable’.
Ivica VASTIC (LASK Linz): He and Hiden are the only two survivor’s from Austria’s last major tournament, their 1998 World Cup memorable only for the fact that their three goals were scored in injury time at the end of each group game. Scored the late equalizer against Chile that year but has been re-invented in his dotage as an attacking midfielder having played up front for Austria for the best part of a decade.
Strikers
Martin HARNIK (Werder Bremen): Austria’s bright young thing of whom good things are expected at his Bundesliga club. Born in Hamburg with an Austrian mother, he has never lived in the country he now represents. Harsher critics might suggest he was only ever going to get caps for his maternal nationality.
Erwin HOFFER (Rapid Vienna): 21-year-old youngster who was Austria’s main goalscorer in their surprise run to the semi finals of the 2007 Under-20 World Cup in Canada. Quick and clinical, he and Harnik suggest better times are ahead for the Austrians, up front at least.
Roman KIENAST (Hamarkameratene): Norweigan-based striker surprisingly called up in place of regular starter Sanel Kuljic. His club are almost uniformly known by the more tongue-friendly abbreviation ‘Ham-Kam’.
Roland LINZ (Sporting Braga): First-choice centre forward plying a respectable, if unremarkable trade in Portugal. Lacks a physical presence but knows where the goal is, though doesn’t deliver enough in international football, although the Austrians have plenty else to worry about before they look at their goalscoring prowess.
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