Karel Brückner made a dream start to his first qualifying campaign as Austria coach with an impressive Group 7 win against 2006 FIFA World Cup finalists France in Vienna.
Home comfort
If Austria carried any residual disappointment from their group-stage exit at UEFA EURO 2008™, it did not show against a Les Bleus side missing Franck Ribéry, Patrick Vieira and Willy Sagnol. An early Marc Janko goal delighted the 48,000 sell-out crowd at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion and René Aufhauser doubled the lead before half-time. Although Sidney Govou pulled one back for Raymond Domenech's team, Andreas Ivanschitz secured the victory from the penalty spot.
Austria in front
It was clear within a couple of minutes that Austria's tactics under new coach Brückner were to draw France in and pounce on the counterattack, and one such move led to an eighth-minute Ivanschitz free-kick that was turned in by Janko. France, another side with bittersweet memories of the European finals, responded to the setback and almost equalised when a Patrice Evra cross was deflected on to his own crossbar by Martin Prödl. However, Austria continued to break at speed and when another Ivanschitz set-piece went uncleared, Aufhauser poked the ball in.
Penalty clincher
The picture was a similar one after the interval, although France were rewarded for their positive approach when Govou reduced the deficit from close range just past the hour. Austria goalkeeper Alex Manninger denied Jérémy Toulalan shortly after. Then French hopes were damaged irrevocably with 18 minutes left as Mexes brought down the lively Janko and captain Ivanschitz made no mistake from the spot. Nicolas Anelka was brought on but France's efforts were in vain. Austria's next qualifier is in Lithuania on Wednesday when Les Bleus play Serbia.
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