With over 50,000 in support Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Dietmar Constantini pushed forward with Rapid Wien duo Stefan Maierhofer and “Jimmy” Hoffer paired up top as well is giving international debuts to Aleksandar Dragović and Jakob Jantscher. The visitor gave the White Eagles a startle early on with Stefan Maierhofer’s however it was only seven minutes in before Radomir Antić’s side found the mark. After Danko Lazović was brought down in the area by Spartak Moskva’s Martin Stranzl, the spot was pointed to. Crvena Zvezda’s talented and highly sought-after captain Nenad Milijaš calmly stepped and made no mistake giving Serbia the 1-0 lead. Chances were at a premium for the balance of the half with Austria unwilling to expose itself to the Serbia’s fast pace countering ability. At the restart Serbia ushered in 1860 München’s Antonio Rukavina for an injured Nemanja Vidić and the defender came in handy as he cleared Stefan Maierhofer’s effort off the line. Eleven minutes in Austria summoned Rubin Okotie and goal scoring machine, Marc Janko in at striker but it was the Serb’s who came close three minutes later as Genoa’s Boško Janković rang the ball off the post from a set-piece. Still on the hunt for the equalizer, Austria’s Marc Janko came within a whisper of finding the needed touch as he pounded the ball off the crossbar from twenty metres with thirteen minutes remaining and later-on, only to be denied by Serbian ‘keeper Vladimir Stojković. Without further mark the match concluded with Austria falling 1-0 to Serbia in a superb display.

Please stop by Nikola’s superb blog on Serbia for a full re-cap from his perspective.

After considerable thought and debate this will serve as my final post. If you care to apply for this blog please contact Daryl with The Offside (click here) after reviewing the guidelines at www.theoffside.com/bloggers.

Standing in the way on Saturday is one of the hottest nations in World Cup qualifying, Serbia. Radomir Antić has his White Eagles side on the verge of sealing qualification and a packed house in beautiful Belgrade will ensure the match is played in a smoldering cauldron. After an early stumble against France, Serbia heads into Saturday’s affair knowing that a victory is crucial in securing a trip to South Africa.

Austria will be without their leader Middlesbrough’s Emanuel Pogatetz and will debut Aleksandar Dragović (Austria Wien), Julian Baumgartlinger (1860 München), Jakob Jantscher (Sturm Graz) and Florian Klein (LASK). Experience is at a premium and given the attacking prowess of the hosts in conjunction with a youthful Austrian side, Dietmar Constantini is likely to deploy a more defensive minded approach.

After a slow start Romania took the lead six minutes before the half hour mark when Austrian ‘keeper Michael Gspurning clearance wasn’t sufficient and Cristian Tănase of Argeş Piteşti cleverly chipped the ball into the back of the net from thirty metres.

Romania was asleep at the wheel as within the minute Rapid Wien’s “Jimmy” Hoffer took advantage of uncharacteristic sloppy defending to sent the ball in to bring th even.

Just before the half a long-ball came to the Rapid Wien man and after racing in on Romanian ‘keeper Bogdan Lobonţ he showed his extraordinary promise and made it 2-1.

While Romania had a number of respectable chances to level the match in the second half, Austria held strong for the important 2-1 victory. Austria returns to play against Serbia in the first week of June.

“He asked me whether I wanted to be captain and whether I would be disappointed if he didn’t name me. And I told him that I would indeed like to do it and that I actually would be disappointed.”

A Graz native debuted at FC Kärnten before moving on the Bayer 04 Leverkusen and eventually captaining Gareth Southgate’s Middlesbrough. Recipient of thirty-three caps for Austrian the hard-nosed defender is a pillar of strength whose heart can never be questioned.

Ahead of next weeks critical match against Romania die rot-weiß-rote have met in Velden am Wörthersee for training. Didi Constantini has named the following squad with a number of surprising absences, including ndreas Ivanschitz, Alexander Manninger and György Garics while providing debuts for Aleksandar Dragović and Yasin Pehlivan:

Goalkeepers: Michael Gspurning (Xanthi), Juergen Macho (AEK Athens), Andreas Schranz (Austria Kaernten)

Defenders: Aleksandar Dragović (Austria Vienna), Andreas Ibertsberger (Hoffenheim), Manuel Ortlechner (Austria Kärnten), Emanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough), Sebastian Prödl (Werder Bremen), Franz Schiemer (Austria Vienna), Andreas Ulmer (Red Bull Salzburg)

Midfielders: Daniel Beichler (Sturm Graz), Christian Fuchs (Bochum), Andreas Hoelzl (Sturm Graz), Zlatko Junuzović (Austria Kärnten), Ümit Korkmaz (Eintracht Frankfurt), Christoph Leitgeb (Red Bull Salzburg), Yasin Pehlivan (Rapid Vienna), Jürgen Säumel (FC Torino), Paul Scharner (Wigan), Manuel Weber (Austria Kärnten)

Forwards: Marko Arnautović (Twente), Erwin Hoffer (Rapid Vienna), Marc Janko (Red Bull Salzburg), Stefan Maierhofer (Rapid Vienna)

Photo Source: (c) GEPA-Pictures

Österreichischer Fußball Bund president Dr. Leo Windtner, who just took over for Friedrich Stickler said:

“I would like to sincerely thank Mr Brückner for his efforts in recent months. Together we agreed that we would end our collaborative work amicably and with immediate effect.”

Austria returns to action on April 1 against Romania in Klagenfurt. There has yet to be an announcement on his replacement.

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)

After starting World Cup qualifying with a strong 3-1 victory over France, the Austrians lost to both Lithuania and Serbia along with a troublesome draw against the Faroe Islands.

The roster for Wednesday’s match includes Red Bull Salzburg prolific goal-scorer Marc Janko and Middlesbrough fire-ball captain Emanuel Pogatetz.

Goal
Michael Gspurning (AO Xanthi/1 Länderspiel), Jürgen Macho (AEK Athen/17), Alexander Manninger (Juventus/32)

Defenders
György Garics (Atalanta), Ronald Gercaliu (Red Bull Salzburg), Andreas Ibertsberger (1899 Hoffenheim), Emanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough), Sebastian Prödl (Werder Bremen/18/2), Paul Scharner (Wigan), Franz Schiemer (Austria Wien/4/0), Martin Stranzl (Spartak Moscow)

Midfield
Christian Fuchs (VfL Bochum), Andreas Hölzl (Sturm Graz), Andreas Ivanschitz (Panathinaikos), Mario Kienzl (Sturm Graz), Christoph Leitgeb (Red Bull Salzburg), Jürgen Säumel (Torino)

Striker
Marko Arnautovic (Twente), Erwin Hoffer (Rapid Wien), Marc Janko (Red Bull Salzburg), Rubin Okotie (Austria Wien)

The prolific striker has plunked in thirty goals in the first half of the Austrian Bundesliga campaign and well on his way to winning the Golden Shoe. In making the decision to extend his contract through 2013 the Austrian international said:

“I feel this is a decisive moment in my career.

“I need continuity and an environment in which I feel comfortable, where I can perform at my best. That is why I decided to extend my contract, despite several really good offers from other countries.

“My mission in Salzburg is not yet finished.

“I’m convinced we are in a good place at the moment and we have a bright future ahead of us. The club have always been on my side, throughout the bad times as well as good, and now it’s time to give something back.”

Following two difficult losses, the Austrians return to play next Wednesday in a friendly against Sweden. Looking towards the match as a learning experience the manager said:

“We want to improve technically and tactically. We must focus on defence. In the last two games our defence conceded seven goals and was very poor.”

Herr Brückner will make only one addition to his lineup, that being twenty-six year old Sturm Graz midfielder Mario Kienzl.

Realizing the key to improved play is great continuity with the squad, the manager added:

“The focus against Sweden is for the players who played in recent games to try and do things better.”