Austria's five finest hours against Germany

Austria versus Germany may always have been a special fixture, but history suggests it has not been quite so even.

While Austria have won just nine of the two nations' 42 fixtures, their neighbours to the north have racked up 23 victories. Dietmar Constantini's team will look to hit double figures when the two teams meet again on Friday but face a tough task against Germany, who know a win would clinch UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group A, in which Austria lie four points off second-placed Belgium with a game in hand. But, as UEFA.com discovers, Germany do not always have things all their own way.

Germany 0-6 Austria, 24 May 1931
Austria followed up their 5-0 win against Scotland in their previous fixture with another astounding result to mark the start of the so called 'miracle team'. Germany's more physical approach was expected to prove the difference but it was the technically gifted Austrians – none more so than Matthias Sindelar – who prevailed in no small part thanks to a hat-trick from Anton Schall.

Austria 5-0 Germany, 14 September 1931
Less than four months after their previous meeting, a rematch was arranged to mark the opening of the new Praterstadion – now the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, venue for the UEFA EURO 2008 final. Just as against Spain three years ago, Germany lost the inaugural game, and defeat was made even worse by the fact Austria fielded a largely second-choice side, with several key players rested for club duty. Sindelar, however, did play and once more came to the fore with three goals in another consummate display of deadly passing from Hugo Meisl's team.

Austria 3–2 West Germany, 21 June 1978
Perhaps the most famous Austrian victory against their neighbours as it came while West Germany were attempting to defend their FIFA World Cup crown. With Austria already out of the 1978 tournament in Argentina, the Germans knew a win would guarantee their progress. Far from having it all their own way, however, they were beaten through a Berti Vogts own goal and two strikes from Hans Krankl.

Austria 4-1 West Germany, 29 October 1986
Not as celebrated as some of their other triumphs, this was nevertheless an emphatic victory for the Red-White-Reds. Played in the renovated Praterstadion, Austria's comfortable success was far from expected. Toni Polster converted two penalties, while Reinhard Kienast also registered twice to render Rudi Völler's goal a consolation.

Austria 3–0 East Germany, 15 November 1989
An especially sweet win for Austria as it sealed their place at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. East Germany could have qualified by winning themselves less than a week after the fall of the Berlin Wall. But it was Polster, under criticism before the game, who struck three times to wrap up Austria's last victory against any national team hailing from Germany.