Austria legend Krankl embraces bitter truth

When co-hosts Austria drew Germany last year, a treasured memory surged in the hearts of every soccer-loving Austrian, and their mouths excitedly formed the word "Cordoba".

Thirty years ago, Austria beat the then world champions West Germany in a World Cup tie in the Argentine city of Cordoba, thanks to an own-goal by Berti Vogts and two goals by Austrian striker Hans Krankl.

In Austria - where rivalry with neighbouring Germany is intense - that game looms large in the collective memory.

Next Monday they could do it all again, when Austria play Germany.

"It would be wonderful if our second Cordoba could come on Monday," Krankl said in an interview by telephone.

"But I fear our chances are not good."

The golden age of Austrian soccer is long past, and the team now languishes at number 92 in the world rankings.

"We just do not have such good players any more. We are a small country and you cannot always produce such a generation as we had back then," said Krankl.

He was joined in the 1978 team by Herbert Prohaska and current national team coach Josef Hickersberger.

"We need to ensure that our young players get to play in foreign leagues to improve," Krankl said.

His own glittering performance in the World Cup saw him move to Barcelona, where his striking record earned him the nickname "goleador" (goalscorer).

Austria's campaign got off to a nightmare start with a loss to Croatia, and now a tricky tie follows with Poland today.

"We should at least have had a point by now. It was very bad to lose on a penalty. In the second half we played much better," said Krankl.

"The next game is decisive for Austria. We can beat the Poles, even though they are a strong team."

Krankl, now 55 with a shock of white hair and a sun-tanned face, is omnipresent in the Austrian media commenting and writing on the tournament.

He served as Austria coach until 2005 and said 70 per cent of the current team are "his players".

"Of course, I would have fielded another team and done certain things differently but all managers are different."

Asked about his two second-half goals which effectively knocked Germany out of the World Cup, Krankl said: "It was wonderful. Terrific. We beat Germany for the first time in almost 50 years."

Germany's top-selling newspaper Bild printed Krankl's telephone number so irate Germans could phone and complain.

"I changed it very quickly," laughed Krankl. "It was crazy."

Today Krankl, who tips Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands as his tournament favourites, plays down the 1978 upset.

"It is great that people remember it, that people recall the good times. But we need to look to the future. It doesn't count any more, what counts is today and we need to look ahead."