Austria en route for Euro2012
The Austrian national team have retained their chance to compete in the Euro2012 by reaching a 4-4 draw against Belgium away from home last night (Tues).Franz Schiemer (14, 62), Marko Arnautovic (29) and Martin Harnik (93) scored for the squad coached by ex-Mainz 05 boss Dietmar Constantini at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.Paul Scharner was sent off with a red card in the 68th minute after a body check against Paul Vertonghen.Keeper Jürgen Macho said: “The Belgians created a lot of pressure. They found many chances to score. Scoring four goals away from home but failing to win is unbelievable, but we should not be too critical. Lets be happy about what we achieved.”Austria will meet Euro2004 champions Greece in a friendly at Viennas Ernst Happel Stadium on 17 November before the next Euro2012 qualifiers are due (Austria vs. Belgium, 25 March 2011).The dramatic 4-4 draw in Brussels came four days after Austria beat Azerbaijan 3-0 in Vienna. The national team has garnered seven of a possible nine points in the first three matches.Austria is in second place in group A behind three-time world champs Germany who won all their first four matches in the group stage.Turkey who embarrassed themselves against Azerbaijan (0-1) yesterday are in third with six points. Belgium are in fourth (four points) ahead of Azerbaijan (3) and Kazakhstan (0).Match action in the Austrian Bundesliga will continue with four matches on Saturday before Mattersburg clash with Austria Vienna on Sunday (live on ORF 1, kickoff: 4pm).