Karel Bruckner has announced his retirement from the game

The 69-year-old was in charge of the Czechs for seven years, leading them to the semi-finals of Euro 2004.

After stepping down as coach at the end of last summer's European Championships, Bruckner then accepted the Austria job but resigned at the start of this month following a run of just one win in seven matches.

Former Czech Republic and Austria coach Bruckner has now announced he will not return to coaching.

"My career as a coach is over," he told citing ill health as one of the reasons behind his decision.

"My health and age have become a handicap. This week I'm going to become a normal pensioner."

Austria – France preview: Road to South Africa 2010

Interesting match. What is the idea? Improve! Improve their performances during EURO 2008.

In the rich head to head France won 11 matches and Austria won 8; but the french team won 5 of 6 official matches.

Here we have this official matches:

Vienna 27/03/1993 AUT 0:1 (0:0) FRA WC Q
Paris 14/10/1992 FRA 2:0 (1:0) AUT QC Q
Madrid 28/06/1982 AUT 0:1 (0:1) FRA WC Second round
Vienna 27/03/1960 AUT 2:4 (0:0) FRA Euro Q Quarter-finals
Paris 13/12/1959 FRA 5:2 (0:0) AUT Euro Q Quarter-finals
Turin 27/05/1934 AUT 3:2 a.e.t. (1:1, 1:1) FRA WC Preliminary round

Michael Ballack goal confirmed Germany vs Portugal in quarterfinals

At Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Ballack shot in the 4th minute of the second half gave the German victory 1-0 against Austria.

The match was rubbed, without many important attacks. It was a poor match, especially because Germany is not playing well at this EURO, although they have many important players in the squad.

In the other hand, at Worthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Croatia beat Poland 1-0 and it is the first team to earn nine points. Only Netherlands and Spain could reach it.

Austria vs. Germany; Poland vs. Croatia: debutants will decide their future

Euro 2008’s Group B will come to a conclusion with the Austria – Germany match outcome proving crucial to decide which nation will take on Portugal in the quarterfinals. An Austria victory will see the host nation or Poland progress at the expense of Germany, meaning that debutants will survive the Group phase for the first time since 1996. It is not imposible, but it is difficult.

Germany themselves were the last to lift the trophy on their debut (1972).

Progress by debutants at European Championship, according to Infostrada Sports

2004 Latvia 4th (of 4) in group
2000 Norway 3rd (of 4) in group
2000 Slovenia 4th (of 4) in group
1996 Croatia Quarterfinals
1996 Bulgaria 3rd (of 4) in group
1996 Turkey 4th (of 4) in group
1996 Switzerland 4th (of 4) in group
1992 Sweden Semifinals
1992 Scotland 3rd (of 4) in group
1988 Republic of Ireland 3rd (of 4) in group
1984 Portugal Semifinals
1984 Romania 4th (of 4) in group
1980 Greece 4th (of 4) in group
1976 Netherlands Third place
1972 Germany Winners
1972 Belgium Third place
1968 Italy Winners
1968 England Third place
1964 Spain Winners
1964 Hungary Third place
1964 Denmark Fourth place
1960 Russia Winners
1960 Yugoslavia Runners-up
1960 Czech Republic Third place
1960 France Fourth place

Austria’s Ivica Vastic logged in European Championship record books

During the match played by Austria and Poland, Austria’s Ivica Vastic became the oldest goalscorer in the history of the European Championship when he converted from the spot in injury time. According to Infostrada Sports, at 38 years and 257 days, he is more than four years older than the previous record holder Nené (POR).

Austria and Poland tied 1-1 and next monday they must win to reach the quarterfinals.

Oldest goalscorers - European Championship history

Age (y-d)
38 years, 257 days Ivica Vastic (Austria) 12 Jun 2008 Austria - Poland 1-1
34-213 Nené (Portugal) 20 Jun 1984 Portugal - Romania 1-0
34-205 Laurent Blanc (France) 11 Jun 2000 France - Denmark 3-0
34-92 Ladislav Pavlovic (Czechoslovakia) 9 Jul 1960 France - Czechoslovakia 0-2
33-268 Ally McCoist (Scotland) 18 Jun 1996 Scotland - Switzerland 1-0

Luka Modric: a penalty kick and a victory

In Vienna, Croatia made debut against the co-host team, Austria with a triumph. At fourth minute Croatia already put in advantage when Luka Modric transformed a penalty kick into a goal.

After this goal, Croatia justified the victory, having the ball and approaching to the Austrian goal. Nevertheless lacking 10 minutes to finish the first half, Croatia left that the ball were managed by the Austrians.

The entire second half was very similar than the end of the first half: Austria generating danger with centers but without generating any trouble to Pletikosa, the Croatian goalkeeper.

With few minutes of good football Croatia obtained three points. It gave the sensation which the Croatians reserved something more, they promise better football caliber during the next presentations.

Lineups:
Austria: Macho, Standfest, Stranzl, Pogatetz, Aufhauser, Linz (Kienast 74), Ivanschitz, Gercaliu (Korkmaz 69), Prodl, Saumel (Vastic 60), Harnik.

Croatia: Pletikosa, Sumunic, Kovac, Corluka, Kovac, Srna, Modric, Olic (Vukojevic 83), Kranjcar (Knezevic 61), Petric (Budan 72), Pranjic.

The Goal: 4 min; Luka Modric.

Yellow Cards: Pogatetz, Saumel, Prodl (AUT), Kovac (CRO)

More Info: El Balón Europeo

Austria did not have problems and was triumphant 5-1 but… which team is Malta?

Austria tried to recover the confidence for EURO 2008 vs. Malta, just in the last match before the most important tournament of the year.

Rene Aufhauser, Roland Linz (twice), Ivica Vastic and Martin Harnik scored for the squad coached by Josef Hickersberger, while Coventry City’s Michael Mifsud made Malta's only goal.

In order to know the dimension of this Austrian triumph, let’s know Malta: the first 45 games played by the Malta National Team from 1900, they won only 5 (Libya twice, Greece and Tunisia (twice). Its maximum star, in the 1970´s, was Joe Xuereb, nicknamed Diego Maradona at that time.

Today, according to FIFA, this team is ranked 135th behind selections like Kenya, Mauritania, Fiji and Kyrgyzstan. Almost players are totally amateurs and have a work activity every day. Only Justin Haber (Haidari), Nigerian Udochukwu Nwoko (Leixoes), Michael Mifsud and Andre Schembri (Eintracht Braunschweig) are professionals.

Austria hadn’t won ever since October 17th, against Cote D’Ivore.

Lineups:
Austria: Manninger, Garics, Stranzl (Prodl 84), Pogatetz (Hiden 84), Gercaliu (Katzer 76), Ivanschitz, Aufhauser (Saumel 76), Leitgeb, Korkmaz (Harnik 46), Linz, Hoffer (Vastic 58).

Malta: Hogg (Haber 46), Caruana (Frendo 46), Said, Dimech, S.Bajada, Briffa, Pace (Mallia 86), M. Mifsud (Barbara 64), Agius, Nwoko (Fenech 46), Schembri (Azzopardi 72).

The Austrian squad for the EURO 2008 is:
Goalkeepers: Alexander Manninger (AC Siena), Juergen Macho (AEK Athens), Ramazan Ozcan (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)

Defenders: Gyorgy Garics (Napoli), Ronald Gercaliu (Austria Vienna), Martin Hiden (Kaernten), Markus Katzer (Rapid Vienna), Juergen Patocka (Rapid Vienna), Emmanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough), Sebastian Proedl (Sturm Graz), Martin Stranzl (Spartak Moscow)

Midfielders: Rene Aufhauser (Salzburg), Christian Fuchs (Mattersburg), Andreas Ivanschitz (Panathinaikos), Umit Korkmaz (Rapid Vienna), Christoph Leitgeb (Salzburg), Juergen Saeumel (Sturm Graz), Joachim Standfest (Austria Vienna), Ivica Vastic (Linz)

Forwards: Erwin Hoffer (Rapid Vienna), Roman Kienast (Ham-Kam), Roland Linz (Braga), Martin Harnik (Werder Bremen)

Juergen Macho came back, but Austria couldn’t defeat Nigeria

This night Austria and Nigeria drew 1-1 in Graz. Austrian goal were made by Roman Kienast in the 12th minute, but the Almeria player Kalu Uche drew seven minutes later.

It was the first match of Juergen Macho with Austria National Team after an injury suffered last November. Austria will play against Malta next Friday wanting, at least, Austria played last five matches without victories. The last joy was against Cote d’Ivore on October. This isn’t the best way to arrive to the EURO 2008 as a host country.

Lineups:
Austria: Juergen Macho, Emanuel Pogatetz, Martin Stranzl, Sebastian Proedl, Christian Fuchs (Umit Korkmaz, 61), Andreas Ivanschitz (Ivica Vastic, 69), Rene Aufhauser, Juergen Saumel, Joachim Standfest, Roland Linz (Christoph Leitgeb, 81), Roman Kienast (Erwin Hoffer, 46).

Nigeria: Dele Aiyenugba, Taye Taiwo, Obinna Nwaneri, Yusuf Mohamed, Joseph Yobo, Victor Anichebe (Peter Odemwingie, 46), John Obi Mikel, Kalu Uche (Lukman Haruna, 79), Ikechukwu Uche, Aiyegbenji Yakubu (John Utaka, 76), Nwankwo Kanu (Kayode Odejayi, 84).

Eduardo da Silva: Croatia miss you

Eduardo Alves da Silva has played single 22 international matches with the Croatia national team. Nevertheless that reached for score 13 goals, 10 goals during the EURO qualifying, which sanctified him in an idol of the Croatian fans.

Nevertheless, an historical kick of Birmingham’s Martin Taylor playing for the Arsenal - that has paid 24 million Euros for him-; ruled out Eduardo of the EURO. For that reason Croatia, which will debut versus Austria, will need to replace him to be fine in a Group B that complete Germany and Poland. Niko Kovac, Mladen Petric and Ivica Olic are some of the key players in the team coached by Slaven Bilis.

In 1996 The Blazers reached EURO quarterfinals with players who, then, was third in 1998 WORLD CUP, always with Davor Suker as the main star. Now, Croatia will go for the quarterfinals after be unsuccessful four years ago. They must demonstrate that the English elimination in Wembley wasn’t casual. In spite of Eduardo absense…

Paul Scharner wants peace

His face never says it. But Paul Scharner is asking for peace... he is in campaign for it. The fundamental piece of the Wigan Athletic announced that he does not lose the hopes to be in the EURO 2008 representing Austria in clear position of repentance to the critics towards Josef Hickersberger in 2006.

Weeks ago the coach said that she will not summon Paul Scharner but he prefers to listen him personally. Maybe, if they talked, Scharner could be in the EURO. Austria received seven goals in the last two friendly matches and Paul could be an important tool in the defense.

By all odds

Looking at the EURO 2008 odds in Bet365, Bet-at-home and Partybets, we could pay attention at these points:

- Germany leads the tables, better than Spain, Italy and Portugal.
- A host country (Austria), at a great distance, is the less favorite in the tournament. Is it historic? I am thinking about USA 1994 but I am not sure.
- Italy, The Netherlands and France (shares Group C) are in the Top Six.
- If Italy reaches quarterfinals (knowing The Azzurri, it is very possible) I perceive that they could reach Germany numbers.
- Greece pays 23 Euros per one. Is time to repeat the mistake?