Sanel Kuljic, Markus Weissenberger, Stefan Maierhofer, Marc Janko, Andreas Ibertsberger, Franz Schiemer and Andreas Dober all missed out when Hickersberger cut his preliminary squad to a final 23 players on Wednesday.

The boss told the Austrian FA's official website, www.oefb.at: "Every decision was a tough one, and I did not take them lightly."

Co-hosts Austria kick off their Euro 2008 campaign against Croatia in Vienna on June 8 before taking on Poland and Germany.

Austria squad: Manninger (Siena), Macho (AEK Athens), Ramazan Ozcan (Hoffenheim); Stranzl (Spartak Moscow), Pogatetz (Middlesbrough), Katzer, Patocka (both Rapid Vienna), Garics (Napoli), Prodl (Sturm Graz), Ronald Gercaliu (Austria Vienna), Martin Hiden (Austria Karnten); Standfest (Austria Vienna), Fuchs (SV Mattersburg), Aufhauser, Leitgeb (both Salzburg), Vastic (LASK Linz), Ivanschitz (Panathinaikos), Saumel (Sturm Graz), Korkmaz (Rapid Vienna); Harnik (Werder Bremen), Linz (Braga), Kienast (Ham-Kam), Hoffer (Rapid Vienna).