With the Group Stages of both the Champions League and Europa League coming to a close, I thought it would be time to evaluate the three Austrian clubs and how they have been doing abroad.
SK Sturm Graz
The League champions started off in the Champions League at the 2nd Round Qualifiers and easily dispatched of Hungarian club Fehrevar, winning 4-3 on aggregate. Moving on they then met Georgian Champions Zestafoni, winning 2-1 on a lone away goal. These scores don’t sound too impressive, but at this point they were in the …
Here is how those Austrians who were on the most current national squad did for their clubs.
Keepers:
Robert Almer- Fortuna Dusseldorf (Ger)- Almer was not in the 18 for Fortuna Dusseldorf 2-1 victory at home to Greuther Furth. The win moved Dusseldorf to the top of the 2nd Bundesliga after 16 matches. Almer has started 3 matches this season, but is currently listed as having a hand fracture and it is unknown when he will return.
Pascal Grunwald- Austria Vienna (Aust)- Made the bench bud did not feature in Vienna’s 2-2 draw …
These are the members of the last National Team matches and how they faired in the last week with their respective clubs.
Keepers:
Robert Almer- Fortuna Dusseldorf (Ger)- Made the bench but did not feature into the 0-0 draw Dusseldorf had with Union Berlin.
Pascal Grunwald- Austria Vienna (Aust)- Made the bench bud did not feature into the 3-0 victory over league leaders Admira. Grunwald has already featured into 22 matches for Vienna so the fact that he hasn’t played in the last two matches could be to rest him, but to not …
Here are a few of my thoughts following the game:
I.) That’s a tough goal to lose against in stoppage time. I was surprised that Robert Almer got the start in goal, but he made some good stops, including the excellent double save in the first half. If I have one complaint about that one is that Sebastian Prodl could have been tighter on Devic, but considering it was a one-touch shot it’s hard to criticize.
II.) Time for me to eat some crow. I had stated that I anticipated seeing 4 …
The first match of the Marcel Koller era sends the boys in red to Kiev to face the Euro 2012 co-hosts. While many other countries have 2 friends this coming week, the Austrians have elected to play only one. So I anticipate Koller using a full allotment of substitutes and not playing for a result. The team he is taking with him is below with my thoughts at each position.
Keepers:
Robert Almer- Fortuna Dusseldorf (Ger) 0 starts
Pascal Grunwald- Austria Vienna (Aust) 3
Heinz Lindner- Austria Vienna (Aust) 0
I anticipate seeing Grunwald play …
Some may point to a distinct lack of quality, others to a lack of competitive build up games, but the bottom line is Austria were not up to the challenge and Josef Hickersberger has quit following a disappointing Euro 2008 campaign.
Turkey and to a certain extent Coratia and Russia have proved that you don’t always need a team full of overpaid stars to have a succesful campaign. It remains to be seen if any of them go all the way, but some gallant Austrian fan’s will still of been thinking that could of …
Macho
Conceded 3 goals in the 3 games, was faultless to any of them. Made some decent stops and was commanding enough round the area. 7
Garics
AÂ high work rate and solid defensively, offered little in the attacking third though in the 2 appearances he made. 6
Stranzl
May of caught the eye with some sound defensive performances, although will need to do better with hi distribution. 7
Hiden
Used as a replacement for Prodl in the final game and only lasted 55 mins, wasn’t good enough. 4
Pogatetz
Had it not been for his lack of discipline in the …
Years of preparation went into organising Euro 2008, but as we get to the business end of the tournament, the hosts and the two set of home nations fans will now have to watch whilst the remaining European countries fight it out to be champions. Austria’s galliant effort ended when they were edged out 1-0, although it should of been more comprehensive a score, by the ordinary looking Germans who booked a mouthwatering quarter final clash with Portugal.
Josef Hickersberger highlighted on this blog that Michael Ballack would be the danger man …
More in hope than expectation the co hosts prepare for a must win game with Germany. In truth they will be pleased to of made it thus far and still be in with a shout of making the knock out stages. Not many though will give them a hope of pulling off a victory against the early favourites Germany, despite their lackluster effort against Croatia. Michael Ballack will lead his team out knowing a draw will send them through, Austria need all 3 points, and hope Poland don’t better them …
Co Hosts Austria were given the latest of lifelines to stay in the Euro 2008 competition, thanks to the intervention of the only Englishman on view. English referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot deep into stoppage time to leave both Austria and Poland still with ambitions for the knock out stages. Croatia’s surprise victory over favourites Germany means there is still a 3 horse race for the second qualifying spot.
Austria will be bhoyed by Croatia’s display knowing that the Germans are not the invincible team everyone had first thought, …
