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Germans flirting with early exit

Austrian players exercise during a training session on Saturday in Stegersbach, Austria. Austria play Germany today. PHOTO: AFP

Germany are teetering on the brink of joining Europe’s other traditional powerhouses on their sofas at home as they prepare for their final Group B match against Austria today.

With England having failed to qualify and both France and Italy licking their wounds after suffering Dutch pastings that could see them eliminated at the first stage, Germany could find themsleves holding the torch for Europe’s giants.

But even they face elimination if they lose against their neighbors and co-hosts Austria.

With the likes of Croatia and maybe even Turkey and Romania pushing for quarter-final slots, the Euro 2008 last eight could have an unfamiliar look next weekend.

And Germany will need to provide a vastly improved performance from their 2-1 defeat to Croatia if they are to beat the pumped-up Austrians.

The co-hosts are trying to draw inspiration from one of their greatest results back in 1978 in Cordoba, Argentina, when they beat the then defending world champions West Germany 3-2 at the World Cup.

And although Germany began the tournament as one of the favorites, the way they were outplayed by a buzzing Croatia has got coach Joachim Loew worried.

“We know how Group B stands, the Austrians will run for their lives, they have a one-off chance to immortalize themselves and put themselves in the quarter-finals,” he said.

“But make no mistake, and I promise you this, my team will be totally different on the pitch in Vienna,” he said. “You will see a difference in attitude and changes to the starting line-up are more than likely.”

“You will see a more aggressive, running game from us, because all the things we did well in the Poland game were conspicuous by their absence against Croatia,” Loew said.

Germany had begun the tournament well in beating Poland 2-0 and they looked ominously like their old selves, having waited 12 years for a victory in this competition since lifting the cup in England in 1996.

However, the cracks were apparent on Thursday as the defensive frailities that saw them ripped apart 3-0 at home to the Czech Republic in qualifying were again ruthlessly exposed by the Croats this time.

Austria don’t have the guile of Croatia in attack but perhaps more of a concern for Germany was their inability to break down Croatia’s backline as Austria will be equally organized and probably even more committed.

And Germany full-back Philipp Lahm admitted Austria will be inspired by the past.

“I know what happened [in Cordoba], I wasn’t born then, but I have read about it and I know there will be a major amount of euphoria and expectation from the Austrians,” he said. “We have seen what Austria can do, we know they will give their all.”

But there is a note of caution in the Austrian camp despite outside sources trying to evoke the spirit of ‘78, a full 30 years later.

“Matches against Germany are always special for me,” said Austria coach Josef Hickersberger, a member of the Austrian World Cup squad in 1978 as a player. “I had some great years in the German league [as player and coach]. But what happened 30 years ago doesn’t count any more.”

“The victory in Cordoba is part of the past,” he said.
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