This is the official squad of the Austrian National Team for their training camp in Coverciano in Italy: Goal: Thomas Mandl (SK Sturm Graz/9 caps), Helge Payer (SK Rapid Wien/2) Defence: Ernst Dospel (FK Austria/14/0 goals), Anton Ehmann (GAK/7/0), Martin Hiden (SK Rapid Wien/25/1), Mario Hieblinger (FC Kärnten/4/0), Emanuel Pogatetz (GAK/7/1), Joachim Standfest (GAK/1/0), Martin Stranzl (1860 Munich/15/0) Midfield: Rene Aufhauser (GAK/16/2), Dietmar Berchtold (SW Bregenz/0/0), Harald Cerny (1860 Munich/46/4), Matthias Dollinger (GAK/2/0), Andreas Ivanschitz (SK Rapid Wien/4/1), Markus Katzer (Herold Admira/1/0), Roland Kirchler (Pasching/20/3), Markus Schopp (Brescia Calcio/45/3), Michael Wagner (FK Austria/10/0), Markus Weissenberger (1860 Munich/21/1) Offense: Muhammet Akagündüz (Malatyaspor/3/1), Mario Haas (SK Sturm Graz/31/6), Roland Kollmann (GAK/2/0), Roman Wallner (SK Rapid Wien/15/5)
Is this Austria's usual lineup? I find it interesting that most players are from the Austrian Bundesliga... Is Muhammet Akagündüz a newly discovered citizen? How good is he?
This in kind of Austrias usual lineup. Actually the only new player is Didi Berchtold of SW Bregenz. Akagündüz played for SV Ried before the club got relegated in 2003. Now he's doing pretty well at turkish site Malatyaspor. He'd already played matches for the national team during the qualifiers for Euro 2004. Away in Minsk (scored in his first international appearance) and in Vienna against Holland. I Think he's a pretty good player and shouldn't be forgotten for the national team. Picture: http://www.sport1.at/coremedia/generator/property=original/id=2244780.jpg
news: 5 players had to stay at home because they're injured. Didi Berchtold, Roman Wallner, Michael Mörz, Martin Stranzl and Michael Wagner didn't go on the trip to Italy. The U-21 squad also made the trip to Coverciano. U-21/Future team Goalkeepers: Robert Almer (SC Altach) Ramazan Özcan (Austria Lustenau) Defenders: Markus Berger (Eintracht Frankfurt) Mario Bolter (SW Bregenz) Ferdinand Feldhofer (Rapid) Andreas Ibertsberger (SV Salzburg) Martin Lassnig (LASK) Patrick Pircher (SV Pasching) Midfielders: György Garics (Rapid) Markus Kiesenebner (SV Pasching) Bozo Kovacevic (SV Pasching) Michael Mörz (Mattersburg) Klaus Salmutter (Sturm Graz) Jürgen Säumel (Sturm Graz) Paul Scharner (SV Salzburg) Kai Schoppitsch (SV Pasching) Florian Sturm (Rapid) Patrick Wunderbaldinger (LASK) Alexander Ziervogel (Admira) Attackers: Dominic Hassler (GAK) Roman Kienast (Rapid) Roland Linz (Admira) Joachim Parapatits (SC Untersiebenbrunn)