Austria will seek to avoid an unwanted slice of history when they take on Poland in a Group B fixture on Thursday where both sides risk potential early elimination from Euro 2008.
After losing 1-0 to Croatia on Sunday, Josef Hickersberger is aware that another defeat would make his side the second hosts after Belgium who failed to emerge from group stage in the tournament history.
Poland suffered a more straight forward setback, succumbing to tournament favorites Germany 2-0 at Klagenfurt in Sunday's the other match.
"It is clear to me that this is a decisive game, but it is the same for Poland," Hickersberger told a press conference on Tuesday. "Now it is all or nothing."
He demanded a gambling mind-set from his 23 men while facing Poland.
"We must beat them. We must take risks from the start," he said.
Widely considered as outsiders, the Alps team earned credit despite the opening defeat as Croatia only capitalized on a fourth minute penalty to manage a win.
They went close to goals a couple of times in the latter part of the second half and had overall eight shots on target compared to Croatia's three, but the lack of experience and efficiency cost them any point.
Austria, newcomers to the championship final tournament, can again count on home support at the Ernst Happel stadium for chances.
Also competing in their first Euro finals, Poland will be without captain Maciej Zurawski, who would be ruled out of the group stage after picking up a thigh injury in Sunday's action.
The 31-year-old striker is the third Polish player to be sidelined by injury in their Euro 2008 campaign after midfielders Jakub Blaszczykowski and reserve keeper Tomasz Kuszczak pulled out during the build-up.
Poland sit bottom of Group B on goal difference but may take some encouragement from the fact that Austria have not won a game in a major tournament since defeating the United States 2-1 in the first round of the 1990 World Cup.
There is also the memory of their home-and-away victories against their opponents in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.
Source: Xinhua
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