Janko named new national team captain
Red Bull striker Marc Janko has claimed Austria “needs eleven captains on the pitch” after being named the national teams new skipper.Stressing that all players need to take responsibility on the pitch, the 26-year-old added yesterday (Mon): “I didnt expect to be chosen, but Im very happy, of course. This is a big honour.”Austria meets Denmark in a friendly at Viennas Ernst Happel Stadium tomorrow night. While the team of Morten Olsen managed to qualify for the World Cup set to start in 101 days in South Africa, Austria failed to do so.Austria manager Dietmar Constantini praised the Red Bull star as a “clever chap” and a “top class goal getter”.Janko succeeds Wigan Athletic defender Paul Scharner in the role. Scharner reportedly accepted being stripped of the captaincy.”Paul is someone who wants to do everything at the same time. That doesnt work,” Constantini said, adding he spoke to the former Austria Vienna player about the reasons for his decision to name Janko.Constantini however expressed his anger with Scharner last year after the 29-year-old failed to score from the penalty spot in a friendly against Cameroon.”The role of a captain must not be overestimated. We need eleven captains on the pitch to be successful,” Janko who scored 39 times in just 34 league matches for the “Bulls” last season said.Austria faces Germany, Belgium, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Kazakhstan in the qualification for the Euro2012.Tickets for tomorrows match against Denmark are still available (www.oefb.at).