Austria know they need to pull off a major shock at Euro 2008 by beating favourites Germany if they are to stand a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

Even a win on Monday might not be enough as Group B is rich with permutations after Austria snatched a 1-1 draw with Poland in stoppage-time and Germany lost 2-1 to Croatia on Thursday.

Croatia, already through to the last eight, are top with six points, followed by Germany on three and the Poles and Austrians on a point apiece before their final round of group matches.

The form book does not give Austria a chance despite arithmetic showing they could finish above Poland on points, goal difference or even goals scored after the Poles' play Croatia.

But the manner of Thursday's euphoria following the equaliser, coolly converted from the penalty spot by Ivica Vastic in the 93rd minute, has left Austria's players thinking anything is possible.

Striker Roland Linz summed up the mood among Josef Hickersberger's men, telling Reuters: "In the end we're very happy and now we hope we can spring a surprise. Why not?

"We played a friendly against Germany months ago and for about 60 minutes we were much better than Germany and then we let in three stupid goals," he said of a 3-0 defeat in February.

"I think if we can play 90 minutes like those 60 we can win. We believe in ourselves, we will fight for Austrian football, for the country... I think it will be a fantastic game."

It will be an emotional one for Hickersberger, who plied his trade as a midfielder in Germany during his playing career and was in the Austria side who last beat the Germans in a competitive game - 3-2 at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.

"Of course, it is a special match for me, I have spent wonderful years in the Bundesliga," he said. "Matches against Germany have always been something special."

But setting aside nostalgia as he prepared for the game, he added: "A victory 30 years ago doesn't mean anything to me whatsoever. A victory in Cordoba is long over and done with."

Aware of how February's meeting ended at the Ernst Happel stadium, Austria will certainly have to keep things tight at the back against the 2006 World Cup semi-finalists.

More importantly, they will have to seize any chances that come their way - which they failed to do against Poland.

Austria created three one-on-ones with Poland keeper Artur Boruc within 20 minutes but Martin Harnik's best efforts and another from Christoph Leitgeb failed to break the deadlock.

After the game Harnik said: "We saw today that Germany are not almighty -- they made some mistakes against Croatia. If we can take better advantage of our chances, Germany will be in trouble."

Reuters