Wurst all round as Germans, Austrians throng Vienna

They share a language, a love of sausages, brass bands and lederhosen but the similarities ended there today for the tens of thousands of Germany and Austria soccer fans in Vienna for their teams' much anticipated clash.

Austria must beat Germany to keep their hopes alive in a match billed as "David versus Goliath", or a "fraternal duel", whereas a draw for Germany will suffice to move on to the quarter-final stage.

"The Germans sneer at us for being a little country, but today we will show them we are a footballing great," said Claudia Kristando, a 31-year-old from Graz, dressed head-to-toe in red and white.

"It is all about prestige. Germans are always so loud and cocky in Austria but they'll be silent tonight."

In Vienna's largest fan zone, flanked by the majestic town hall and Burg Theatre, Germans and Austrians queued good-naturedly together for sausages and beer - staple cuisine in both countries - and swayed to German-language pop music.

"There is a great mood here today. We love the Austrians, and as we are from southern Germany they have a lot in common with us anyway," said Ralph Ruhlider, a 24-year-old student from Landshut, wearing a German soccer shirt and lederhosen.

"That said, we are still going to thrash them tonight."

The odds are stacked heavily in favour of Germany - three times world champions and three times European champions.

"It was really important for me to be here today, especially as it is Austria, our neighbour and our little brother," said 35-year-old Bernhard Holle from Dortmund.

"They don't have a chance, of course, but they are putting on a nice tournament," he said.

Police expect some 200,000 fans to watch the group game in Vienna and will exploit the fact fans speak the same language by handing out cards printed with the lyrics to both national anthems.

As the beer flowed, Austrian and German fans began to compare each others' lederhosen and argue about their origin.

"Okay then - they come from the mountains, and there are mountains in Germany and Austria," conceded 34-year-old Austrian Thomas Hauseder from Seewaichen.

"But they look better on us."