Austrian Chancellor Makes A Bold Prediction

Thirty years after perhaps their crowning achievement as a national football team, Austria will get the chance to meet Germany once again in a major tournament. In 1978, during the World Cup in Argentina, Austria went into the last game of the second group stage knowing they were going home regardless of the result. Then West Germany still had an opportunity to go through, and would have at the expense of Italy if they’d simply beaten Austria. But a Hans Krankl brace - including an 87th minute slalom through the German defense - and Berti Vogts own goal saw Austria historically defeat the defending champs and send them home early by a score of 3-2.

Well now the chancellor of Austria, Alfred Gusenbauer, is thinking of a repeat, and said so to an Austrian outlet recently. A mighty bold statement for what most see as the tournament favorite going up against the favorite to finish 16th in the tournament. (There are 16 teams, which means they’re favorites to finish last, if you need things spelled out for you like I do today.)

At least it’s good to see some nationalism from a country which has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, recently.

The infamous goal from Krankl: