FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Austria’s new-found reliability and consistency have served them in good stead on the road to France. Who would have bet on them making the 1998 World Cup at the start of the decade, when they suffered the ignominy of defeat at the hands of the Faroe Islands?

Failure to qualify for Euro 96 with a 5-3 thrashing by Northern Island set the seal on what had been a desperate run. Yet here they are in the finals, so the question has to be put-what has changed?

Very little it seems. Herbert Prohaska, coach in the dark days, remained at the helm, and he kept faith with key players like Toni Polster and Andreas Herzog. But fresh commitment reaped its reward and they finished top of their qualifying group, two points clear of Scotland.

The 1934 World Cup semi-finalists had at last given their supporters something to cheer about, although their opening salvo was hardly encouraging, a goalless draw against the Scots. Then a surprise away win in Sweden kickstarted their campaign, followed by a respectable 2-1 defeat of Latvia. But then came an unwelcome reminder of the old Austria when a visit to Parkhead resulted in a 2-1 loss to Scotland.

From there on in it was all positive news for Prohaska’s men, who will be looking to see off Chile and Cameroon and qualify for the second round as runners-up behind Italy.

Lack of firepower in the front line may cause Prohaska, who won 80 international caps himself, a few headaches, with only two of their 17 qualifying goals being scored in the four games against the two toughest sides.

He will be looking to the veteran Polster-knocking on the door of the legendary Gerhar Hanappi’s record of 90 games for his country-and the erstwhile Bayern Munich star Herzog, now with Werder Bremen, to produce the goods this summer.