Austria aiming to repeat history
June 16, 2008 at 7:49 am | In Austria | Leave a CommentTags: 1978 FIFA World Cup, Austria, Josef Hickersberger
Thirty years on from Austrian football’s most famous day Josef Hickersberger has history on his side when his team meet Germany in Vienna for a place in the UEFA EURO 2008™ quarter-finals, although the coach is looking elsewhere for inspiration.
Vienna memories
A 3-2 win in Cordoba in the 1978 FIFA World Cup knocked out then holders West Germany, Austria’s sole victory in ten competitive fixtures against West and the unified Germany. Much has been made of that triumph – in which Hickersberger played – in the build-up to a game that will decide second place in Group B, yet the coach said: “Too much has been said about Cordoba. For me, history is repeating itself. In 1989, we played the German Democratic Republic in Vienna in a decisive qualifier for the 1990 World Cup and won [3-0]. The names are different now, but we’re looking forward to the match.”
Late blow strikes Saganowski hard
June 14, 2008 at 1:07 pm | In Poland | Leave a CommentTags: Artur Boruc, Austria, Josef Hickersberger, Leo Beenhakker, Marek Saganowski, Poland
Striker Marek Saganowski says coach Leo Beenhakker has a battle on his hands to raise Poland’s players for their Group B finale against Croatia after a disappointing finish against Austria.
Bleak
Poland endured serious pressure from Austria in the first 20 minutes in Vienna, with goalkeeper Artur Boruc making a number of saves to deny Josef Hickersberger’s side, before the game turned in Poland’s favour when Roger Guerreiro scored on 30 minutes. However, a stoppage-time penalty from Ivica Vastic earned the co-hosts a 1-1 draw and Poland now have a major battle on their hands to make the last 16. Leo Beenhakker’s team have one group match left, against Croatia in Klagenfurt on Monday, but Southampton FC forward Saganowski admits the mood in the camp is bleak.
Hickersberger’s faith pays off
June 13, 2008 at 8:25 pm | In Austria | Leave a CommentTags: Austria, Josef Hickersberger
After watching Ivica Vastic drill in an added-time penalty to secure Austria’s first-ever UEFA European Championship point, Josef Hickersberger said he was “99.9 per cent certain” that the 38-year-old would wipe out Poland’s 1-0 lead. The striker became the oldest scorer in the history of the finals at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, keeping the co-hosts alive in the process. Leo Beenhakker said Poland were “probably out of the tournament” but both sides could qualify for the quarter-finals by winning their final matches on Monday.
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