Group B latest: Austria v Germany/Poland v Croatia

13 April 2012

Germany's Michael Ballack celebrates his goal


Croatian player Danijel Pranjic (R) celebrates the opening goal by Ivan Klasnic

Croatian player Danijel Pranjic (R) celebrates the opening goal by Ivan Klasnic

90 Full time. Germany and Croatia go through to the last eight.

90 Frings tries his luck from long range but Macho watches it go wide.

88 Macho makes another good save from Klose.

84 Croatia's Zahorski booked for a wild lunge.

83 Hoffer goes close with a sharp turn and shot.

81 Best move of the match for Austria. Ivanschitz bursts past two defenders into the box but Lahm's comes across to prevent the shot.

79 Macho keeps Austria in the game with a brave dive at the feet on Klose to deny the German striker.

74 Austria enjoy a decent spell of possession but they can't find a way through to trouble Lehmann.

69 Poland are still pushing forward. Runje saves a far post header from Saganowski.

66 Guerreiro has been one of Poland's best players tonight and he fires another effort just past the far post.

64 Austria need two goals to go through and sub KIenast comes on in a bid to give them a cutting edge.

Ivan Klasnic of Croatia scores the opening goal against Poland

Ivan Klasnic of Croatia scores the opening goal against Poland

59 Boruc almost caught out by a wicked Pranjic cross ... and the ball bounces off the top of the bar.

54 Germany have firmly taken control of the game. Podolski fires a shot just wide.

53 GOAL - CROATIA. Klasnic fires a left-footed drive across Boruc and into the corner.

49 GOAL - GERMANY: Free kick moved to Ballack and he smashes a fierce drive into the top corner.

Michael Ballack of Germany shoots and scores the opening goal against Austria

Michael Ballack of Germany shoots and scores the opening goal against Austria

47 Guerreiro lets fly with a speculative effort and Runje makes the save.

HT Both games remain goalless at half time and there's all to play for.

Joachim Loew (L), head coach of Germany and Josef Hickersberger, head coach of Austria have an arguement while the fourth official referee Damir Skomina (C) stands in between

Joachim Loew (L), head coach of Germany and Josef Hickersberger, head coach of Austria have an arguement while the fourth official referee Damir Skomina (C) stands in between

40 Great fun on the sidelines. The rival Austrian and German coaches are embroiled in a heated row and after ignoring a warning from the fourth official are then sent to the stands by the referee.

38 Boruc called into action again, with a smart stop to deny Rakitic.

32 Great chance for Croatia and Klasnic but the impressive Boruc makes a fine save with his legs.

31 Hoffer booked for a late challenge on Ballack.

27 Croatia forced to make a change. Knezevic lands awkwardly and hobbles off. He is replaced by Vedran Corluka.

23 Podolski fires in a powerful drive from just outside the box and Macho pushes the ball past the post.

Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc, right, vies for the ball with Croatia's Ivan Klasnic

Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc, right, vies for the ball with Croatia's Ivan Klasnic

20 Great chance for Hoffer, who beats the offside trap to reach a clipped cross but Lehmann comes out sharply to collect the ball at his feet.

19 Vejic inches away from giving Croatia the lead. Rakitic's free kick it met by a firm header but it flashes wide.

18 Austria penalty appeals are waived by the referee after Hoffer goes down under a challange from Metzelder.

14 Stranzl booked for a foul on Klose. It's a bit harsh and provokes an angry response from the Austrian coach.

10 Dudka flashes a header wide just wide from a corner for Poland.

7 Poland have dominated the early stages in Vienna. Krzynowek has a shot blocked and Lobodzinski forces a smart clearance from Runje.

What a miss: Mario Gomez, unmarked and two yards out, fails to add the finishing touch and Gyorgy Garics clears

What a miss: Mario Gomez, unmarked and two yards out, fails to add the finishing touch and Gyorgy Garics clears

5 Unbelievable miss by Gomez. Klose beakes free on the right cuts back on the right and rolls the ball across to Gomez to tap into an empty net  from two yards but the ball bobbles up and the striker miskicks, the ball loops up and Garics heads clear from underneath his crossbar.

19.45 Both matches kick off.

Austria v Germany

Germany coach Joachim Loew brought in Arne Friedrich to replace the injured Marcell Jansen in the only change for their decisive final Group B match against Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria on Monday.    

Friedrich's introduction at right-back means Philipp Lahm shifts across to the left side of defence. Loew resisted the temptation to make other changes, despite a poor performance in the team's last match, a 2-1 defeat by group winners Croatia.

While Germany just need a draw to reach the quarter-finals, Austria must win and hope Poland do not beat the Croatians by a bigger margin in Klagenfurt.    

Austria coach Josef Hickersberger made three changes. He brought in Martin Hiden to replace suspended defender Sebastian Proedl, Erwin Hoffer in place of forward Roland Linz and Christian Fuchs for Christoph Leitgeb in midfield.

Austria: 21-Juergen Macho; 14-Gyorgy Garics, 3-Martin Stranzl, 17-Martin Hiden, 4-Emanuel Pogatetz; 20-Martin Harnik, 6-Rene Aufhauser, 10-Andreas Ivanschitz, 5-Christian Fuchs, 11-Umit Korkmaz; 22-Erwin Hoffer    

Germany: 1-Jens Lehmann; 3-Arne Friedrich, 17-Per Mertesacker, 21-Christoph Metzelder, 16-Philipp Lahm; 4-Clemens Fritz, 8-Torsten Frings, 13-Michael Ballack, 20-Lukas Podolski; 9-Mario Gomez, 11-Miroslav Klose

Referee: Manuel Mejuto (Spain)

Poland v Croatia

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic rested nine first-choice players for their final Euro 2008 Group B match against Poland on Monday.    

Croatia won the group with victories over co-hosts Austria and Germany, allowing Bilic to rest players, including those on a yellow card or with minor knocks, ahead of Friday's quarter-final with Turkey.    

The Croats will start in a 4-4-2 formation, with defender Dario Simic taking over the captaincy while left back Danijel Pranjic and forward Ivan Rakitic were kept in the starting line-up.    

Poland, who need to win by two clear goals and have the result of the Austria v Germany match in Vienna go their way, fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation with Marek Saganowski on his own up front.    

Their coach Leo Beenhakker dropped out-of-form striker Ebi Smolarek, their top scorer in qualifying with nine goals, in favour of right winger Wojciech Lobodzinksi.     Playmaker Roger Guerreiro, scorer of their goal in the 1-1 draw with Austria, has retained his position while Mariusz Lewandowski and Rafal Murawski will play in a holding role to protect the back four.    

There are two changes in defence, with Mariusz Jop and Jacek Bak being replaced by midfielder Dariusz Dudka dropping back and Jakub Wawrzyniak coming into the side.

Poland: 1-Artur Boruc; 13-Marcin Wasilewski, 14-Michal Zewlakow, 5-Dariusz Dudka, 3-Jakub Wawrzyniak; 19-Rafal Murawski, 18-Mariusz Lewandowski; 8-Jacek Krzynowek, 17-Wojciech Lobodzinski, 20-Roger Guerreiro; 11-Marek Saganowski

Croatia: 23-Vedran Runje; 2-Dario Simic, 6-Hrvoje Vejic, 15-Dario Knezevic, 22-Danijel Pranjic; 16-Jerko Leko, 8-Ognjen Vukojevic, 13-Nikola Pokrivac, 7-Ivan Rakitic; 17-Ivan Klasnic, 21-Mladen Petric

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