the building process continues

What else can you say after a stunning 3-1 victory over France? Austria dominated most of the match and left the former World Champions grasping for excuses. Yet there are no excuses, they were simply out-played and out-coached by a team that wanted to win more. I should also like to state, I say this with tremendous respect for Les Bleus and I sit and wonder how such a Football powerhouse was completely out-played and showed little heart. Will this be the final nail in Raymond Domenech’s career as manager of France is anyone’s guess but the clear point for Austrian fans is how far the team has come in the last five years and how Karel Brückner has taken the club the next step from where Josef Hickersberger left off.

In-front of the home Vienna fans, Austria came out in a tight 4-5-1 with Red Bull Salzburg’s Marc Janko as the lone striker. The midfield of René Aufhauser (Red Bull Salzburg), Paul Scharner (Wigan), Martin Harnik (Werder Bremen), Andreas Ivanschitz (Panathinaiko) and Christian Fuchs (Vfl Bochum) were brilliant in controlling play, marking tightly and counter on France’s over-commitment. Equally the back-line of György Garics (Atalanta), Sebastian Prödl (Werder Bremen), Martin Stranzl (Spartak Moscow) and the forever intense spark-plug Emanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough) never let the French attack get untracked and Alexander Manninger (Juventus) held fast the Austria goal.

Austria opened the scoring at the ninth minute off a Andreas Ivanschitz free-kick that was misplayed and credited at the time to Marc Janko. There appears to be some debate of whether it was off the Red Bull Salzburg striker or bumbled off France’s Philippe Mexes. Regardless Austria had the lead and never released it. René Aufhauser nicked it a goal three minutes before the break to give Austria a neat and tidy 2-0 lead. France came out more aggressive after the break and after constant pressuring, Sidney Govou brought France within one at the sixty-first minute. Philippe Mexes seemed to be confused and in a attempt to audition for Les Chanticleers he haphazardly tackled Marc Janko on a corner. Sadly for me, thats not so good on the pitch and the spot was pointed to. Andreas Ivanschitz calmly converted at the seventy-third minute to bring the match to its final 3-1 conclusion.

Austria’s efforts continue this Wednesday against Lithuania.