European Football Cup 2008’s Weblog

Austria captain Andreas Ivanschitz has called on his team to continue the progress they have made at UEFA EURO 2008™ and deliver a knockout blow to Germany in Vienna.

Hero status
It is a meeting that has gripped the co-host nation and provided the excuse to dust down memories of previous triumphs over their neighbours. Ivanschitz labelled it a “special match, a decisive match” and one that offers the chance for all of Josef Hickersberger’s players to become heroes. “It was important for us to draw against Poland as it gives us the opportunity to make it through to the quarter-finals,” said the 24-year-old Panathinaikos FC midfielder. “It makes it all the more interesting and for both sides it is a key match.”

Win or bust
To achieve a place in the last eight in their first appearance in the UEFA European Championship, Austria need to win and hope that Poland do not defeat Croatia by a bigger margin while a draw would be enough for Germany to progress behind Croatia, the group winners. Ivanschitz was asked whether the chance to deliver a result that would be talked about in the country for years to come has made him especially nervous.

Nervous feelings
“I’ll see how well I am going to sleep tonight,” he began. “Of course the nerves have already been there for some days. We have a unique opportunity in such a big tournament to beat Germany. It is not going to be easy, we are the outsiders, but we have given evidence that we are good enough to play against good teams and we now have to confirm that the team is good and in a good shape.”