Austria keen to avoid embarrassment

Ask most Austrian fans for their opinion on their team’s chances in the European Championship and the answer would hear the German language equivalent of zilch.

As Austria prepares to co-host the tournament with neighbouring Switzerland, there is little sense of euphoria in a nation much better known for its success on the ski slopes.

Several local polls suggest interest in the tournament remains low and the recent fortunes of the national team have participated in the general feeling of gloom.

Austria has, however, managed to punch above its weight in the past.

The nation has qualified seven times for the World Cup and coach Josef Hickersberger was in the talented side that upset the West German team.

But “Hicke” does not have the likes of former greats Toni Polster, Andreas Herzog and Hans Krankl and results in the run-up to the finals have raised concern.

One group of supporters even launched a petition calling on the team to clear out for a more attractive side.

Home advantage has of course been an influential factor at major tournaments.

But having seen their team handed a tough draw most Austrians seem to think that the team won’t get past the group stage.

Looking on the positive side, not all Austria’s performances have been as hopeless as the statistics might suggest.

Austria was the better team in a goalless first half against the Germans, although Joachim Loew’s men stepped up their game to win after the break.

A shock win over the Netherlands in their last big test before the tournament seemed on the cards after Hickersberger’s men took the lead but once again failed to maintain their strong start and lost.

Nevertheless, there is an argument that a team putting three goals past the Dutch cannot be useless.

Austria’s improvement, at least over the first half, suggest Mr Hickersberger’s stubborn decision to concentrate on new faces is perhaps being rewarded.

Veli Kavlak, Sebastian Proedl, Erwin Hoffer and Martin Harnik have all stepped up to the senior team since helping restore some national pride with a run to the semi-finals of the last under 20 World Cup.

There are also a number of solid, experienced individuals in the side, including captain Andreas Ivanschitz, goalkeepers Alex Manninger and Juergen Macho and defenders Martin Stranzl and Emanuel Pogatetz, the latter back in the side after patching up his much-publicised differences with Mr Hickersberger.

A shortage of creative team members and an apparent problem with scoring goals could be the team’s ultimate undoing however.

In the 14 games under Hickersberger, Austria have scored just ten times with all but two of those goals coming from the midfield or defence.

But given the uncertain build-up to the European Championship, a place in the quarter-finals would be a major achievement although most fans are hoping their team avoids humiliation.