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Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann led the praise for the nation's football team after they booked their place at Euro 2016 with a 4-1 win away to Sweden. Austria, whose only previous European Championship appearance came when they co-hosted the 2008 edition, had not qualified for a major international tournament since the 1998 World Cup. However, Marcel Koller's side have secured top spot in Group G after Tuesday's result saw them move eight points clear of second-placed Russia and 10 clear of third-placed Sweden with two games remaining. Stuttgart's Martin Harnik scored a brace while Bayern Munich star David Alaba and Basel striker Marc Janko were also on the scoresheet in the victory at the Friends Arena in Solna, with Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic netting an injury-time consolation for the hosts. Faymann told reporters after the game: "It's unbelievably fantastic, and I am extremely proud of the team as well as the fans. At times, it felt like a home game. Something outstanding has been created, which gives us all a whole lot of pleasure." While qualification has been expanded for the 2016 tournament to 24 teams, Austria were far from favourites for Group G. Austrian FA president Leo Windtner said: "By qualifying, we have created a sensation in Europe ... this team has written history." Austria midfielder Alaba, who opened the scoring after nine minutes, added: "It's something special when you write history. "Today we've shown once again that we are a great team and deserve to go to France. We could have beaten them by an even bigger margin. We are just delighted that we have fulfilled our dream." The team's captain, Christian Fuchs, made his Austria debut in 2006 and the Leicester City full-back was elated at the final whistle. "We've worked for that for such a long time," he said. "It's just wicked and super! We can now say we have qualified." Austria finished fourth at the 1934 World Cup and third in the 1954 edition but last made it beyond the first round of a major international tournament in 1982.
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