
A Vienna brewery is promising a lifelong supply of free beer to any Austria player who scores a goal for the co-hosts in their remaining Euro 2008 group matches against Poland and Germany.
Austria, competing in the finals of the tournament for the first time, made a disappointing start with a 1-0 defeat against Croatia on Sunday.
"Maybe this is the kind of motivation that will give them the last kick our team needs to be successful," Ottakringer Brauerei AG chief executive Sigi Menz said in a statement, adding he would personally deliver the brewers's supply for the first year.
Austria, ranked 92nd in the world, take on Poland in Vienna on Thursday before completing their Group B fixtures against Germany at the same venue on Monday.
lol poor Ivica Vastic.
Austrian team members will have to look for a new motivation when they face Poland in Group B, as Austria9s football chief declined an offer of free beer for any scorer, the daily Kronen Zeitung reported Thursday. Vienna brewing company Ottakringer had promised free beer for life to any player who scores a goal in the upcoming matches against Poland or Germany.
"We don't need such type of motivation. We need three points against Poland, but we definitely need no beer belly," said Alfred Ludwig, secretary general of the Austrian Football Association.
But his decision also seems to have economic reasons.
Ludwig said the association might lose the credibility it enjoyed with its sponsors if it accepted the offer. He was referring to the Stiegl brewery, which supports Austrian football and distributes the official Euro 2008 Carlsberg brand.