Before the Austria game: Last memories of disgrace in Gijon

Hans Krankl sets the tone on Saturday evening with the band Monti Beton at the “Spettacolo Italo-Americano” in Bad Sauerbrunn, Burgenland, before he sets the tone on Sunday, during the ORF the match will be shown in the morning and then analyzed and he will travel to his second home in Jesolo.

In 1982, Austria beat Algeria 2-0 in Oviedo. And because Chile had been beaten before that, it came against Germany to the non-aggression pactwhich was also enough for the 1-0 winner and eventual World Cup finalist Germany to gain promotion. This is guaranteed to be the last time that this is mentioned, especially since Krankl is one of the oft-quoted ones Disgrace of Gijon wants to say one last word by admitting: “If I had gotten to the ball in the penalty area in the 88th minute, I would have put it in the top corner.”

Then, despite all the speculation, he would have liked to send home the “jam things”, pardon jam kickers according to the EU interpretation. Just as he had already succeeded in Cordoba in 1978. But Krankl never had the opportunity to shoot in Gijon. Because in the stage you pushed the ball back and forth in slow motion.

Admittedly, as a World Cup on-site reporter in Gijon, I initially found the leisurely hustle and bustle to be rather normal due to my (unsuccessful) third division past. Also because at that time in the championship finish, many medium-sized companies helped their opponents, who were in danger of relegation, to score points with a passive style of play.

Shame of Gijon: Great indignation

In the amateur sector, the loser’s premium could be higher than the winner’s premium. But there was a World Cup in Gijon. And the unsportsmanlike neighborly cooperation between Austrians and Germany became special simply because of their sad historical past stale aftertaste.

In all of North Africa, where you can use Nemsa (= Austria) until then thanks Bruno Kreiskys politics had sympathized, was the Great outrage. And ultimately also in Austria, as an ORF commentator Robert Seeger During the collective shame of others, Gijon even advised turning off the television in protest.

At the public viewing in Vienna, my book, which was dominated by benevolent stories about Austria’s World Cup players, was publicly burned. At least its title is still current: “Austria again and again.”