room for optimism in Austrian loss to Sweden

While Karel Brückner would have preferred to come out with a confidence boosting win, Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to Sweden showed promise on the defending side. Using his first run starting eleven before the break the Austrians kept the twenty-fifth ranked side in the world well under control. While attacking creativity was certainly lacking there is room for optimism with the general discipline and efficiency.

After a scoreless first forty five, a short defensive lapse by Karel Brückner’s side resulted in Sweden scoring twice within five minutes. Two minutes before the hour mark Rasmus Elm (Kalmar FF) struck a superb volley from twenty meters before Olympique Lyonnais‘ Kim Källström doubled the margin five minutes later off a free kick. In the final stages of the match Christoph Saurer (LASK Linz) and Mario Kienzl (Sturm Graz) debuted for Austria and showed well under the Graz lights.

Austria return to action against România on April 1.

Austria lineup
Alexander Manninger (Juventus)
György Garics (Atalanta // Andreas Ibertsberger 1899 Hoffenheim 46′), Sebastian Prödl (Werder Bremen), Martin Stranzl (Spartak Moscow (Franz Schiemer Austria Wien 67′), Emanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough) –
Jürgen Säumel (Torino // Rubin Okotie Austria Wien 67′), Paul Scharner (Wigan // Mario Kienzl Sturm Graz 83′), Hölzl, Andreas Ivanschitz (Panathinaikos // Christoph Saurer 76′) –
Marko Arnautovic (Twente), Marc Janko (Red Bull Salzburg)