Hard task ahead for Hickersberger

New Austria coach Josef Hickersberger faced up to the magnitude of his task as the UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts lost 2-0 against Canada in his opening game.

Major task
With no competitive matches to play before the finals in two summers' time, the 57-year-old has been handed the job of preparing Austria for the pressure of the EURO. After they leaked two second-half goals at home to the Canadians, the former SK Rapid Wien boss knows his side have a long way to go.

'We start again'
"I knew it would be hard and Canada deserved this victory," said Hickersberger, who is in his second spell in charge of the national team. "They played better in every sense. They dominated us, physically and technically, and this was the key. Now we start again from scratch and can only get better."

Early days
Austrian Football Association president Friedrich Stickler was quick to give his players the benefit of the doubt, with the Bundesliga season only recently restarting after its winter break. "We are at the beginning of the spring season," he said. "Our players are not in the best shape at the moment.

'No excuse'
"That should be no excuse, but we have to look forward to our next match in May," added Stickler. "We have to put in a much better performance against Croatia, but it seems we are at the start of a long and difficult journey. Saying that, there is still quite a bit of time left."

Positive omen
Hickersberger's previous reign commenced with a defeat by neighbours and UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts Switzerland. He went on to lead Austria to the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. On a night of unpleasant home truths, that might at least represent a good omen.