A precocious talent who looks destined for big things, Harnik is the main reason those who follow Austrian football closely have a positive outlook for the future of the national side.
Times may be hard at present but with Harnik already a German Bundesliga regular at the age of 20 (he turns 21 during the tournament), things are looking up as Austria look to the months and years to come.
Born in Germany but with a father from Graz, the pacy striker broke into Werder Bremen's first team last year and was quickly rewared with a pro deal.
A goalscoring international debut as a substitute against the Czech Republic in August 2007 gave a mouthwatering glimpse of the future and he will hope to build on that this summer on the biggest stage he has appeared on.
Just the one player currently based in Britain has made the squad, but three other players have previous experience of English football.
Emanuel Pogatetz is the sole Premier League representative, though 'Mad Dog' is hardly the apple of coach Josef Hickersberger's eye after criticising him following poor result against Costa Rica and Venezuela in late 2006.
The Middlesbrough man is joined in the squad by former Premier League goalkeepers Alex Manninger and Jurgen Macho - plus defender Martin Hiden.
Manninger, Austria's most likely No 1, spent his four years in England largely as back-up at Arsenal, though he did keep six straight clean sheets in their 1998 Double, and is now back in Serie A with Siena.
Like Manninger, squad-mate Macho's spell in England was filled with bench-warming as he served as Thomas Sorensen's understudy at Sunderland for three years then - bizarrely - had 12 months as fourth choice at Chelsea.
Hiden was the first Austrian outfield player to play in the Premier League when joining Leeds in the summer of 1998 but just 30 appearances later he returned to his homeland with Rapid Vienna.
