Austria's National Soccer Team: Does It Exist?

Austria has a national football team that represents the country in men's international football competitions. The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) was founded on 18 March 1904, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The national team, known as the Wunderteam during their successful run in the 1930s, has experienced fluctuating fortunes over the years, with notable achievements including a fourth-place finish in the 1934 FIFA World Cup and a third-place finish in the 1954 World Cup. After a period of decline in the 1990s and 2000s, the team has seen a resurgence in recent years, successfully qualifying for the Euros in 2016, 2020, and 2024.

Austrian Football Association

The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) is the governing body of football in Austria. It was founded on 18 March 1904 in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and has been a FIFA member since 1905 and a UEFA member since 1954. The association organises the Austrian Bundesliga, the Austrian Cup, and the Austria national football team, as well as its female equivalent.

The Austrian Football Association oversees the football league and cup competitions in the country, including the Austrian Bundesliga, which is the top division. It also organises the Austrian Cup, a knockout tournament for domestic clubs. Additionally, the association is responsible for the Austria national football team, which represents the country in international competitions. The national team has a rich history, with notable achievements such as a fourth-place finish in the 1934 FIFA World Cup and a silver medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

The Austrian Football Association has produced several well-known players and personalities, including Hugo Meisl, who served as the general secretary and national team coach in the early years. Under Meisl's leadership, the national team, nicknamed the "Wunderteam," enjoyed a successful period from 1931 to 1932, remaining unbeaten in 14 successive matches.

The association is headquartered in Vienna, the capital of Austria, and has regional associations in different parts of the country, including Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, and Upper Austria.

The Austrian Football Association has a strong focus on development and has produced several talented players who have represented the national team. The association also organises youth teams, such as the U-20 squad, which finished fourth in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

In recent years, the Austrian national team has experienced a revival, successfully qualifying for the UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024 tournaments. The team has also shown improvement in the UEFA Nations League, with notable players like Marko Arnautović, Christoph Baumgartner, and Marcel Sabitzer leading the squad.

The 'Wunderteam'

The Austrian national football team, known as the "Wunderteam" (or "Wonder Team") in the 1930s, rose to fame under the management of Hugo Meisl. The team was renowned for its quick passing style of play, introduced by Englishman Jimmy Hogan. The Wunderteam dominated European football during this era, with an unbeaten streak of 14 games between April 1931 and December 1932.

The forward line was complemented by wide half-backs and an attacking centre-half. The team's star was Matthias Sindelar, also known as "Der Papierene" ("The Paper-thin Man") due to his slim build. Other notable players included Josef Bican, Anton Schall, Josef Smistik, and Walter Nausch.

In the early 1930s, the Wunderteam became a celebrated team in Europe, routing many of their opponents before the 1934 FIFA World Cup. They achieved notable victories, including 5-0 and 6-0 wins over Germany, 6-0 over Switzerland, and 8-2 over Hungary. They also won the Central European International Cup, the predecessor of the European Championship, by defeating Italy 4-2 in 1932.

The Wunderteam entered the 1934 World Cup as one of the favourites but were eliminated by Italy in the semi-final. Bad weather conditions limited their ability to execute their passing game, and Italy scored the only goal of the game when the Austrian goalkeeper was pushed over the line. The Austrian team eventually finished fourth after losing 2-3 to Germany in the third-place playoff.

The death of Hugo Meisl in 1937 marked the beginning of the end for the Wunderteam. Austria qualified for the 1938 World Cup finals but withdrew after the Anschluss with Nazi Germany in March of that year. The Austrian Soccer Federation dissolved, and Austrian players were forced to integrate into the German national team for the tournament.

The legacy of the Wunderteam includes their influence on Total Football, with Austrian player and coach Ernst Happel introducing a similar style of play in the Netherlands during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Post-World War II Austrian football

After World War II, Austria re-established its national football team, which had been dissolved following the country's annexation into Nazi Germany in 1938. In the post-war period, Austrian football experienced both successes and setbacks, with the national team achieving notable results in the 1950s and 1960s before entering a period of fluctuating fortunes.

The 1950s and 1960s: A Competitive Decade

During the 1950s, the Austrian national team built on its pre-war successes and established itself as a competitive force in international football. The team finished third in the 1954 World Cup, losing only to the eventual champions, Germany, in the semi-finals. This strong performance was followed by a series of impressive results in the 1958 World Cup, where they faced tough opponents such as Brazil and the Soviet Union. While they were unable to advance beyond the group stage, their performance laid the foundation for the team's continued competitiveness in the following years.

The 1960s began with a setback as Austria decided not to participate in the 1962 World Cup in Chile due to budgetary constraints and the high travel costs to South America. However, the team quickly rebounded and made history on 20 October 1965, when they became the third European team to defeat England at home, with a score of 3-2. This victory, led by Toni Fritsch who scored two goals, earned him the nickname "Wembley Toni." Despite this notable win, Austria struggled to qualify for major tournaments during this time, missing out on the 1966 World Cup and only earning a draw in the qualifiers.

Fluctuating Fortunes and a Revival

The 1970s and 1980s brought a mix of successes and challenges for Austrian football. The national team came close to qualifying for the 1974 World Cup but ultimately lost to Sweden in a playoff. However, they rebounded and reached the second round of the World Cup in both 1978 and 1982, with a memorable victory over West Germany in 1978. This Austria team, coached by Helmut Senekowitsch, is considered the best post-World War II Austrian football team.

The 1990s and early 2000s were a difficult period for Austrian football, with the national team suffering several disappointing results, including a shocking loss to the Faroe Islands in the qualifying round of the 1992 European Championship. They qualified for the 1998 World Cup but were eliminated in the group stage, marking their last World Cup appearance to date.

Recent Years: A Resurgence

Austrian football has experienced a resurgence in recent years, with the national team successfully qualifying for the Euros in 2016, 2020, and 2024. This revival in form can be attributed to the development of new players and a focus on youth squads. In the 2020s, Austria reached the knockout stages of the European Championship for the first time since the 1982 World Cup, advancing past the group stage of a major tournament for the first time in four decades.

Overall, Austrian football has had its share of highs and lows in the post-World War II era, with the national team experiencing periods of competitiveness and decline. However, with recent successes and a focus on youth development, Austrian football looks to be on an upward trajectory once again.

UEFA Euro 2008

Yes, Austria does have a national football team. The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) was founded on 18 March 1904, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Austria co-hosted the 13th UEFA European Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2008, with Switzerland from 7 to 29 June 2008. This was the first time that Austria had played in the UEFA European Championship.

The tournament was won by Spain, who defeated Germany 1-0 in the final. Spain became European champions for the second time, with Fernando Torres scoring the only goal of the game. Spain was the second nation to win all their group stage fixtures and then the European Championship, matching France's achievement in 1984.

Austria and Switzerland automatically qualified as hosts, while the remaining 14 teams were determined through a qualifying tournament. The draw for the final tournament took place on 2 December 2007, and Group C was labelled the "group of death", with Italy, France, Romania and the Netherlands competing for the two qualifying places.

In the group stage, Croatia, Spain and the Netherlands all qualified with maximum points. Austria and Switzerland were not expected to progress, despite the advantage of being hosts. In Group A, Switzerland lost their captain, Alexander Frei, to injury in their first game and became the first team to be eliminated from the tournament. In Group B, Austria set up a decisive final game against Germany, dubbed "Austria's final", but they lost by one goal. As a result, Euro 2008 was the first European Championship where neither of the host nations was present in the knockout stage.

The official song of UEFA Euro 2008 was "Can You Hear Me" by Enrique Iglesias, and the official mascots were named Trix and Flix.

Current players

The Austrian national football team has indeed seen a revival in form in recent years, successfully qualifying for the Euros in 2020 and 2024. The team is currently coached by Ralf Rangnick.

• Marcel Sabitzer (3rd captain)
• Christoph Baumgartner
• Marko Arnautović (Captain)

The following players have also been called up to the Austria squad in the last twelve months:

• Alexander Schlager
• Maximilian Wöber
• Michael Svoboda
• Flavius Daniliuc
• Samson Baidoo
• Gernot Trauner
• Leopold Querfeld
• Philipp Lienhart
• Phillipp Mwene
• Nicolas Seiwald
• Alexander Prass
• Florian Grillitsch
• Romano Schmid
• Konrad Laimer
• Patrick Wimmer
• Matthias Seidl
• Kevin Stöger
• Arnel Jakupovic
• Michael Gregoritsch
• Andreas Weimann

Frequently asked questions