As co-hosts for Euro 2008, Austria could only content themselves with friendly games as preparation and have, during this period, endured some difficult times. Coach Josef Hickersberger was well aware of the challenges ahead when tasked with building a new Austrian team to be ready for the finals. He was even quoted as saying that he knew all about the problems and the ‘obstacles and setbacks’ that had to be overcome.

When Hickersberger initially took charge of the team, the first three games ended in defeat, but that dismal run ended in September 2006 with a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica. The first win for the beleaguered manager came in his fifth match in charge with a 2-1 defeat of Liechtenstein, with Thomas Prager netting a late winner. Then Austria followed up this victory with a 2-1 win over joint co-hosts Switzerland. However, when René Aufhauser scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 over Trinidad & Tobago, which took place in October 2006, it would prove to be their last win for the next ten games- stretching over a period of one year. That dreadful run finally ended in Innsbruck with a 3-2 win against the Ivory Coast.

Hickersberger is adamant though that his policy of blooding talented young players will pay dividends in the Euro 2008 finals and he himself is convinced that his team will reach the quarter-final stage- at the very least!.