© Reuters 2002

VIENNA, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Austria striker Ivica Vastic has asked to be dropped and will not be playing in the country's Euro 2004 qualifiers this month, coach Hans Krankl said on Thursday.

The former Sturm Graz captain, who moved to Japan earlier this year to play for Nagoya Grampus Eight, told Krankl he no longer wanted to play for Austria due to the stress of travel and time changes.

"There's no point calling up a player who himself has asked not to be considered," Krankl said.

The absence of the striker is a blow to Austria's chances of qualifying. They play Belarus away on October 12 and the Netherlands at home in Vienna on October 16.

The 22-man squad, which has seven changes in formation since the group three qualifier against Moldova last month, includes seven from first division leaders Austria Vienna and uncapped Pasching players Bozo Kovacevic and Helmut Riegler.

Pasching were promoted into the top division this season and are currently just four points behind Austria Vienna.

Krankl, the former Barcelona striker who scored the winner in Austria's shock 3-2 win over West Germany in the 1978 FIFA World Cup" in Argentina, is well aware that the odds for qualifying for Euro 2004 are stacked against his team.

His choice of players with international experience is restricted. Most of those who do play for teams abroad spend more time sitting on the bench than playing on the pitch.

"If I were to choose on the basis of achievement, that is whether and how someone played, then I would currently not be able to get 20 men together," Krankl told Kurier newspaper.

"I am constantly having to adjust my visions and systems," he added in reference to his aim to move Austrian football up the rankings. "I can't really say that I'm enjoying my job at the moment."

Squad:
Goalkeepers: Alex Manninger (without club), Roland Goriupp (Kaernten)

Defenders: Michael Baur (Hamburg SV), Harald Cerny (1860 Munich), Ernst Dospel (Austria Vienna), Robert Golemac (Sturm Graz), Martin Hiden (Austria Vienna), Emanuel Pogatetz (Aarau), Paul Scharner (Austria Vienna).

Midfielders: Rene Aufhauser (Graz AK), Thomas Floegel (Austria Vienna), Andreas Herzog (Rapid Vienna), Bozo Kovacevic (Pasching), Juergen Panis (Austria Vienna), Helmut Riegler (Pasching), Markus Schopp (Brescia), Michael Wagner (Austria Vienna), Markus Weissenberger (1860 Munich).

Forwards: Muhammet Akagunduz (Ried), Roland Linz (Austria Vienna), Volkan Kahraman (Pasching), Roman Wallner (Rapid Vienna).