Vienna  - Austria's media and football fans are slowly getting nervous - it is three days to the Euro kick-off, and no-one knows who will man Austria's goal.

Austrian coach Josef Hickersberger again delayed a decision on who will wear the much-coveted Number one shirt of the co-hosts, making Austria the only nation in the
16-country line-up which has not announced its goalkeeper.

The much-awaited decision whether to nominate AC Siena's Alexander Manninger or Juergen Macho, who plays with AEK Athens, was postponed Wednesday by Hickersberger due to unspecified "disciplinary issues."

"The goalkeeper question is right now our smallest problem," Hickersberger told journalists at a press conference the team base camp in Stegersbach, Austria.

The final decision will be announced on Sunday immediately before Austria's first game against Croatia, Hickersberger added, keeping up the suspense.

Postponing the decision presented no problem for team captain Andreas Ivanschitz.

"This is accepted by the players, because the decision lies with the coach. I am very relaxed about this," the midfielder said.

Austria's coach, who is accused by fans for dithering, said earlier that he already made his decision, which had not been easy.

"The decision is mainly a gut decision," the 60-year-old said on Tuesday, adding that the candidate who got the short straw should heed the example of Germany's goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

Kahn's public profile and and sympathies improved greatly when he was made number two behind Jens Lehmann, Hickersberger said.

Hickersberger's plans were thrown askew on May 27 when Rapid Vienna goalkeeper Helge Payer, the most likely candidate, was forced to quit the Euro squad due to a thrombosis in his stomach.

Payer will be out for at least six months, Austria's team doctor said.

The three candidates Payer, Manninger and Macho had played on the national squad since 2007 on a rotation basis.

Austria's football fans are fairly split in their choice, but are getting impatient with the team coach.

According to an opinion poll by the daily Die Presse, 51 per cent support former Arsenal keeper Manninger, while 49 per cent want Macho to man Austria's goalposts.

"Hooray, we are making fools of ourselves even before the start," one poster on the website of Der Standard, a liberal daily wrote. Others feared that Hickersberger's dithering was making Austria the laughing stock of the tournament.

Hickersberger refused to comment on the exact nature of the disciplinary problems marring his team, but said it affected one player, who was late for meetings. Also general attitude had deteriorated. (dpa)