Ümit Korkmaz thinks that Austria's status as outsiders in Euro 2008 is playing right into their hands. He thinks that Poland, Germany and Croatia, who are first to play the Austrians on Sunday, could be in for a rude awakening when they meet them in the capital, Vienna. He is adamant that because everybody is underestimating Austria’s chances, they we be hit “like a bomb”. Midfield team-mate Christoph Leitgeb is also of the same opinion, and added that the chances of Austria going as far as the quarter-final stage are high and that he also thinks that Croatia have defensive weaknesses which can be exploited.

Last Wednesday Austria boss Josef Hickersberger told the media that there were some disciplinary issues with certain members of the squad, but Andreas Herzog, the team manager has said that all the problems had now been sorted after Hickersberger had spoken to the squad.

Now that all the issues have been ironed out, Austria can now focus all their efforts on Sunday's opener. Herzog said that the first game of a tournament is always important, and he should know being Austria's most-capped player. He added that they can only get past Croatia by giving nothing less than 100 per cent but the players have been well prepared and have high hopes of getting a good result.