Thomas Morgenstern, the 2006 double Winter Olympics champion in Turin, considers the encounter “the most exciting ever”. The 21-year-old ski-jumper is referring to the top match of the UEFA European Football Championship™ 2008. It will take place at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna on June 20, bringing together Group B opponents Austria and Germany. The Austrians have high hopes that their national team can manage to secure a quarter-finals spot with this last group match. Though the signs are not particularly good after the weak results recorded internationally during 2006 and 2007, the Austrians’ confidence increased somewhat following the draw in Lucerne for the UEFA EURO 2008™ finals. Austrian fans have new heart, which has passed to the players and team manager Josef Hickersberger. Their motto is: With a bit of luck and skill, the tasks against Croatia (June 8) and Poland (June 12), as well as the old, but forever immediate encounter against neighbours Germany, can be resolved successfully.

The Austrian Football Association, ÖFB, internet site ( www.oefb.at ) outlined this collective optimism among the country’s sporting heroes. Three-time Formula 1 World champion Niki Lauda knows the recipe: “We must play good football, so the spark is transferred to the people as at the 2006 World Cup in Germany”. Because the Austrians enjoy the advantage of being one of the two hosts of UEFA EURO 2008™, the coaches of opposing teams had stressed after the draw that Hickersberger’s team could be a force to reckon with. Though Austria, once a footballing great, has dropped to 91st in the world rankings, the Alpine republic still retains its status as the leading nation at skiing. Besides ski-jumper Morgenstern, top Alpine skiers Benjamin Raich and Michael Walchhofer are also optimistic. “It won’t be easy, but we have a good draw and attractive opponents”, they agreed.

ÖFB President Friedrich Stickler dismisses suggestion of Austria’s elimination after three games. “The quarter-finals remain our expressed goal. It will be difficult to achieve, but not impossible. The opponents are very interesting. There will be many emotions, and this holds particularly true against Germany. It will be a fantastic, exciting third match. We are the outsiders, but we have an ambitious attitude, and we will work hard to achieve it.” Team manager Hickersberger viewed with a different eye the initial matches, as he stressed how he looked forward with special feelings to the encounter with the German World Cup bronze medallists: “Germany are the favourites, Croatia and Poland reckon they have a chance of reaching the quarter-finals. It is always good to play Germany as late as possible. But I’m looking forward to this encounter. I played and coached in Germany. It is a great meeting.” Hickersberger’s assistant Andreas Herzog also considered the Germans to be the favourites, but calculated his team’s chances of making the quarter-finals: “We have three opponents who qualified in superior style. But it could have been worse. Germany remain firm favourites, but against the other two teams we have a chance. They are opponents we can beat on a good day. This makes me confident.”

But the greatest support and maximum optimism was expressed by Austria’s Federal Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer. The head of the government believes his national team to be capable of going all the way on their European debut. “The title favourites are Germany, Italy France and Austria. After the final I am asking for the headlines: ‘Austria are European Champions’ and ‘Austria were hosts of a unique football tournament’”, said Gusenbauer in an interview with “Sport Journal”, a magazine published in Germany for the first time in December 2007. Gusenbauer’s arguments were the same as those from Austria’s opponents. “We are not believed to be capable of much, so the pressure is off. In football, a home team with local crowd support can achieve everything. We are trying to create an atmosphere of confidence. Austria will stand behind their team, and that’s why I believe them to be capable of anything”, the Federal Chancellor added. With such comments he has personally sparked a new air of confidence.