Austria talk tough of big upset but may hold fire for Ireland

WORLD CUP 2014 GROUP C QUALIFIER:

Manager Marcel Koller and star player David Alaba speaking about causing an upset in Munich have dovetailed to perfection, yet the overwhelming feeling points to the visit of Giovanni Trapattoni’s men in five days’ time.

Just ahead of Ireland and Sweden on goal difference in the chase for second place, Koller is aware Austria’s duels with Ireland next week and the Swedes on October 11 are crucial.

It’s for that reason that veteran striker Marc Janko is likely to be kept on the bench. Being one of the seven Austrian players running the gauntlet of picking up a second booking and missing out on Tuesday, the Trabzonspor giant is also nursing a thigh injury.

The forward, who played under Trapattoni at Red Bull Salzburg, reckons Austria have proven they’re capable of usurping their two contenders for the play-off spot.

“We’ve achieved the last two results in the group against Ireland and Sweden with the help of our team spirit,” said the 30-year-old.

“Look at how our team bounced back to get a 2-2 draw in the last minute in Ireland. That equaliser was what we deserved and it helped us push on for the win over Sweden.”

Stoke City’s €2.6 million deadline day capture Marko Arnautovic also has one eye of Ireland’s visit to the Ernst Happel Stadium, though confessed: “If we say that, it would mean we don’t want to beat Germany.”

Driving the former Werder Bremen striker’s desire to beat the Germans tonight is atonement for the reverse meeting when Arnautovic squandered a late chance in Vienna to grab a draw in the 2-1 defeat: “Not only is it I having a score to settle, but all of the team have.”

More than just revenge is on the menu for the poster-boy of Austrian football, David Alaba, a midfielder for his country but the left-back in Bayern Munich’s Uefa Champions League triumph last season.

One of nine Bundesliga-based players in Austrian squad, tonight’s meeting at the Allianz Arena represents a homecoming for the playmaker who deflated Irish fans with a stoppage time equaliser in March at the Aviva Stadium. “There is no fear amongst our squad in playing in Germany,” said the 21-year-old.

The Germans, five points ahead at the top, could have their place booked in Rio by Tuesday should they collect enough points against Austria and the Faroess and the chasing pack slip up. But Sweden showed up Germany’s suspect defence in the 4-4 draw in Berlin last October. Something similar by Austria tonight would hand them the initiative ahead of their sellout showdown with Ireland in Vienna.