Germany out to cement lead against Austria

Traditional rivals Germany and Austria will face off Tuesday in Vienna in a 2014 World Cup qualifier with key players missing, as the Mannschaft looks to cement top spot in Group C. The Austrians, led by Swiss coach Marcel Koller, will be hoping for an upset after winning three of their last four international games. But their track record against world number two Germany makes this unlikely, with their last encounter — a Euro 2012 qualifier in September 2011 — ending 6-2 for their northern neighbours. Germany kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday with a sluggish 3-0 win against the Faroe Islands. Tuesday’s match at Vienna’s sold-out Ernst Happel Stadium will be Austria’s debut in the tournament. “There is a bit of hope... we beat Turkey in August for the first time in 24 years, why shouldn’t we have a good game against Germany as well?” Austrian captain Christian Fuchs, who plays in the German Bundesliga side Schalke 04, said ahead of the match. But he acknowledged Germany was of “a different caliber.” “They’re in the semi-finals of every tournament and are the great favourites. We’re clearly the dark horse.” Germany will be able to line up Lazio striker Miroslav Klose, Bayern Munich’s Philipp Lahm and Thomas Mueller, as well as Borussia Dortmund’s star midfielders Marco Reus and Mario Goetze. Austria will meanwhile be without their brightest young star, Bayern midfielder David Alaba who is recovering from an injury, and Paul Scharner, banished from the squad after a row with the coach. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Gomez will also be missing on the German side.