Ex-team goalscorer Janko: “There will be no embarrassment.”
Austria's national soccer team meets the Faroe Islands. Ex-striker Marc Janko talks about his wild memories.
The weather is always good on the Faroe Islands. “There the rain comes across and not straight down like us,” jokes ex-team kicker Peter Pacult. For Austria's guest performance on Saturday in the capital Torshavn, adverse conditions are announced again: rain, wind! The national team wants to avoid the gusts and will fly to the Atlantic island on Thursday.
How wild is it getting? “Today” asked Marc Janko. The ex-ÖFB striker stormed the Faroe Islands in a 1-1 draw in October 2008. “Even the landing approach was adventurous, some screamed for their lives,” remembers the 38-year-old. And in the game? “The wind was so strong that you could have leaned against it and would not have fallen over. Goalie Alex Manninger shot over the center line once and the ball flew back to him.”
Despite all the capricious weather, Janko does not believe in another slip at the 114th in the world rankings. “There will be no embarrassment. Of course, the circumstances are known: here the favorite, there the big underdog. But that is nothing new for the team. They have this maturation process behind them and should master this task confidently despite a few failures.”
By the way: Austria's goal in the 1-1 draw on October 11 at the Faroe Islands was scored by Martin Stranzl. For Janko, Marko Arnautovic came onto the field in the 81st minute, making his team debut at the time. “You could already see his skills back then,” says Janko. “Today I say: He's one of the top three I've played with, a real difference player with incredible potential. And if he hadn't stood in his own way sometimes, he would have played at clubs like David Alaba.”
Author: Klaus Pfeiffer
