Krankl calls on Kühbauer

Experience needed 
The 31-year-old, who plays for second division leaders SV Mattersburg, last played for his country in a 2-0 victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina in September 2001. Austria coach Hans Krankl called him back because he believed the squad needed extra experience for their forthcoming UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifier against the Czech Republic, which is preceded by a friendly against Greece.

Fitness worry 
"We have two difficult games coming up in which I will need some experienced players,'' he said. Austria's other senior players are TSV 1860 München's Harald Cerny and SK Rapid Wien's Andreas Herzog, who has been capped 100 times, although Krankl is worried about the latter's condition. "Herzog is not in his best shape right now but I am sure he will be able to help the younger players,'' Krankl added.

Possible debuts 
VfB Admira Wacker Mødling's 23-year-old defender Markus Katzer could be set for his international debut, along with Helge Payer, Mario Hieblinger, Andreas Ivanschitz and Roland Kollmann. The Austrians play Greece on 27 March before taking on the Czech Republic on 2 April. Austria are third in Group 3, level on six points with the second-placed Czechs who have played a game less.

Austria squad 
Mandl, Payer, Aufhauser, Ehmann, Katzer, Pogatetz, Scharner, Stranzl, Cerny, Weissenberger, Flögel, Wagner, Hieblinger, Ivanschitz, Kovacevic, Kühbauer, Schopp, Herzog, Wallner, Kollmann.