After 16 years

Carinthian club could send European Championship participants!

Sandro Altunashvili(Bild: GEPA pictures)

WAC midfielder Sandro Altunashvili achieved something historic with the Georgian national soccer team - and now wants to become the first player from a Carinthian club to play in a European Championship since 2008! The East Tyrolean Sandi Lovric, meanwhile, made Cristiano Ronaldo rage. .

It's been a long, long time! The last time a player from a Carinthian club was in the European Championship squad of his national team was in 2008: Back then it was Austria Carinthia defender Martin Hiden for Austria - he even played 55 minutes against Germany in the Hanappi Stadium (0:1).

Historic victory
And now, 16 years later, someone could do it again: Sandro Altunashvili! The Georgian achieved something historic with his country - their first ever participation in the European Championship! Although the WAC midfielder was only on the bench against Luxembourg (2:0) and in the decisive play-off victory over Greece (4:2 after 0:0), he still played his part.

"I'm in shock!"
"It was the hardest thing, just watching. But I'm still in shock. I'm the happiest person! The whole country was celebrating - we Georgians know how to party!" laughed Altunashvili, who arrived back in Carinthia on Wednesday - after not only the people in the capital Tbilisi celebrated with many car parades until the early hours of the morning.

"Wants to be there in Germany!"
How does Sandro see his chances of being called up by team boss & Bayern legend Willy Sagnol ("He's so experienced, he can really empathize with us footballers!")? "I'll do everything I can to be there in Germany in June and to be on the pitch!" The 26-year-old hopes to be nominated, as does ex-WAC legionnaire Luka Lochoshvili (now Cremonese).

"F**k you!"
Sandi Lovric, meanwhile, drove Cristiano Ronaldo to white heat during the international break: The Lienz player beat the Portuguese 2:0 with Slovenia - and "CR7" cursed towards the referee at the end: "F**k you!"