After requiring a 93rd-minute penalty to scrape a draw with Poland, Josef Hickersberger is banking on improved finishing from his forwards when Austria tackle neighbours Germany in their decisive Group B fixture.
Nail-biting night
The brilliance of Poland No1 Artur Boruc and the profligacy of the Austrian forwards contributed to a nail-biting night at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, where Vastic drove in a stoppage-time spot-kick to earn the co-hosts their first-ever point in a UEFA European Championship. They will need three more on Monday to stand a chance of qualifying, and Hickersberger remains undaunted. "With the support of the fans to inspire us, it won't be a hopeless case against Germany," said the 60-year-old. "The team put in a fantastic performance in the first half but we just didn't take our chances to score."
No advantage
Hickersberger played both in the Bundesliga – for Kickers Offenbach 1901 and Fortuna Düsseldorf – and in Austria's only competitive victory against their rivals, a 1978 FIFA World Cup tie which put paid to West Germany's chances of advancing in Argentina. Although he would love to repeat that that feat on home soil, the veteran trainer refused to see any portents in history. "That's far too long ago and doesn't have any bearing on what's going on here," he said. "Any player who thinks that we have any kind of advantage over Germany going into this game needs to get it out of his head over the next few days."
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