Wigan defender Paul Scharner's hopes of a recall to the Austrian national side for Euro 2008 have been ended by coach Josef Hickersberger.

Scharner, who has starred in the Latics' recent run of good form, quit the international set-up in 2006 after criticising Hickersberger.

The pair met for clear-the-air talks after Wigan's 0-0 draw at home to Arsenal on Sunday, but Hickersberger has revealed that he is unwilling to countenance the presence of a potentially unsettling influence in his squad.

Hickersberger said: "Paul has said he would be willing to play for Austria again at Euro 2008.

"But I already told him in 2006 that his decision to leave the team meant he was giving up on that possibility.

"On top of that, he aimed a lot of comments at the national team immediately after his withdrawal which were not all helpful to a successful working relationship.

"For this tournament, where we are clearly massive outsiders, we need to be a really closely-knit team.

"We have already started to develop a real team spirit as we showed in our sporting performance against Germany [a 3-0 defeat].

"Considering all that, and barring exceptional circumstances, any Euro 2008 return for Paul Scharner remains unlikely."

However, Hickersberger's decision to exclude Scharner is in stark contrast to the recall handed to fellow England-based defender Emanuel Pogatetz.

Middlesbrough man Pogatetz quit the international scene a month after Scharner following a dispute of his own with Hickersberger.

Co-hosts Austria have been drawn in Euro 2008 Group B alongside Germany, Croatia and Poland.

Being co-hosts means they were spared having to qualify for the tournament, but they have endured a wretched run of form over the past year, winning just one of their last 13 friendly matches.

Tom Williams / Eurosport