UEFA EURO 2008 GROUP B
Germany 1-0 Poland 1945 BST
RESULT
Austria 0-1 Croatia
GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times BST)
Fourth Minute Penalty Sees Croatia Scrape Past Resilient Austria ...
Ballack Impresses as Germany Beats Serbia ...
Czech Liberec Region disagrees with change of border with Poland ...
Germany upsets Slovakia at World Ice Hockey Championship ...
Euro hits record US$1.60, then falls back ...
German President Köhler visits Croatia ... To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111.
(Not all contributions can be used) By Caroline Cheese
2004: GOAL Germany 1-0 Poland
2002: Germany defender Christoph Metzelder makes an early bid for beard of the tournament. Dark and brooding. It's a frantic start to the game, with Germany on top but Poland looking dangerous.
1959: There's Germany boss Joachim Low, in jeans and immaculate white shirt - tucked in of course. No trademark scarf though, which is disappointing.
1958: "I'm going to regret saying this, but I really like the look of the German squad."
Totally_Torres on 606
1950: What an incredible miss. Incredible. Miroslav Klose skips clear and is through on goal but instead of slotting the ball under the keeper, he passes to Mario Gomez - who can't stretch far enough to tap in.
1949: "A Polish driver won the Grand Prix but in a German car so what does that portend? A draw?"
randalthor1812 on 606
1946: Jens Lehmann is in the action immediately. The ex-Arsenal keeper comes to punch but collides with Per Mertsacker. The ball comes out to Jacek Krzynowek, but he blazes over.
1945: Poland - seeking their first win in 15 meetings with Germany - kick off the game.
1941: The Polish fans drown out the jeers from their German counterparts by singing their anthem with gusto. You can hear a good few whistles during the German one though. A real sense of anticipation about this game...
1940: Germany, who are looking for a first European Championship win in 12 years, and Poland, who are making their debut at the tournament, head out of the tunnel. Electric atmosphere at this relatively small stadium.
1937: "I think Poland will get something out of this game."
BBC analyst Alan Shearer
1935: "It's absolutely jumping in here. The Polish fans have been here for hours. Beenhakker, as a coach, has got to use the energy from those fans."
BBC analyst Lee Dixon inside the Worthersee Stadium
1921: It's off to Klagenfurt and the Worthersee (Originals) Stadium for this next match. The stadium has a capacity of just 32,000, not nearly enough for the thousands of Germany and Poland fans who have descended on Austria.
1918: Away from the nasty old tabloids, Radio Times fashion expert Nicky Hambleton-Jones says Germany's kit is her favourite. "It's bold and striking and really works - and the socks aren't competing with the rest of the look." Important to remember that, folks. Your socks should never compete with the rest of your look.
1916: "Of course we have seen the photos," said Ballack. "We weren't exactly thrilled to see them." Beenhakker has apologised to the German camp.
1911: If you thought England v Germany prompted some questionable tabloid headlines at Euro 96, you ain't seen nothing yet. Polish newspaper Super Express published a mocked-up photo of Poland coach Leo Beenhakker carrying the severed heads of German captain Michael Ballack and manager Joachim Low. Nice.
1904: TEAMS
Germany: Lehmann, Lahm, Metzelder, Mertesacker, Jansen, Fritz, Frings, Ballack, Podolski, Gomez, Klose. Subs: Enke, Friedrich, Westermann, Rolfes, Schweinsteiger, Odonkor, Trochowski, Hitzlsperger, Borowski, Neuville, Kuranyi, Adler.
Poland: Boruc, Wasilewski, Zewlakow, Bak, Golanski, Dudka, Lewandowski, Lobodzinski, Zurawski, Krzynowek, Smolarek. Subs: Fabianski, Jop, Wawrzyniak, Zahorski, Kokoszka, Pazdan, Gargula, Murawski, Roger, Piszczek, Saganowski.
1900: I'm struggling for a Champagne Moment from the Austria-Croatia game, so I'm going to give it to Roman Kienast's glancing header for Austria at the death which would have earned the co-hosts a well-deserved draw. For all the horror stories, Austria looked a well-organised, hard-working side - just short of a cutting edge and perhaps a bit of inspiration. Croatia need to play for longer than 25 minutes if they're to make any progress.
1857: "Bravo! Austria, lots of heart!"
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1853: "Without a shadow of a doubt, Austria deserved an equaliser. They were quicker, sharper and more competitive in the second half."
BBC analyst Alan Hansen
1852: FULL-TIME Austria 0-1 Croatia
1851: Oh so close. Several thousand Austrian fans have their heads in their hands. The free-kick comes over and Roman Kienast's glancing header bounces just wide of the post.
1848: "You can see why Croatia are not the same force without Eduardo. They can play, pass the ball but they haven't got that cutting edge or pace up front."
BBC analyst Gavin Peacock
1847: "A lot of these Croatians have very low pain thresholds. "
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1845: Austria sub Umit Korkmaz lets fly with a swerving shot which Stipe Pletikosa does well to keep out. Three minutes for Austria to salvage something.
1841: Croatia look to run down some precious seconds by replacing Ivica Olic with Ognjen Vukojevic.
1839: "Austria can pass the ball better than England!"
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1837: Ivica Vastic lets fly with a header from the edge of the box and Croatia keeper Stipe Pletikosa fumbles before collecting. It's all Austria at the moment and they deserve an equaliser. 11 minutes remaining.
1835: Lively Austria sub Umit Kormaz wins a free-kick after a slaloming run on the left. Ivica Vastic takes the kick but it's beaten away by the keeper. The ball is then bobbling about in the Croatian area and it eventually comes out to Martin Harnik - who blazes over.
1834: "Austria won't be as easy to beat to beat as people think. If they hadn't given away that silly penalty, who knows what would have happened?"
BBC analyst Gavin Peacock
1833: Austria are pressing forward, roared on by the home fans, but they lack the final ball. Croatia played brilliantly for 25 minutes but have been unconvincing since.
1830: Mladen Petric's afternoon comes to an early end as Igor Budan comes on to win his sixth cap. Striker for a striker.
1829: "It's so funny watching watching Modric play, he's like a floppy fish."
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1826: Ivica Olic performs a couple of stepovers and dinks the ball past Sebastian Prodl, who swiftly sticks a leg out out and brings him down. Yellow card for you son.
1823: It won't surprise you to learn that Croatian-born Vastic is the oldest player at Euro 2008. He's back in the squad after a two-and-a-half year absence. He is second behind Hans Krankl in the Austrian league's all-time scoring list.
1819: And so is Austria coach Josef Hickersberger. The substitution gets a huge roar of approval from the home fans as Jurgen Saumel is replaced by 38-year-old Ivica Vastic. Croatia replace Niko Kranjcar with Dario Knezevic.
1816: Luka Modric wins the ball back out right and hammers the ball in but Martin Stranzl is there with the clearance. Slaven Bilic is getting ready to make his first change.
1815: "Does anyone else like the look of the new football? Looks like the balls they used in the old days."
Anon via text on 81111
Yes. I do.
1811: Austrian defender Joachim Standfest heads behind as Mladen Petric looks to steal in at the far post. A crucial intervention. Croatia are beginning to look like threatening again.
1809: Croatia defender Robert Kovac gets a yellow for bringing down Roland Linz in midfield.
1806: The second-half begins as the first ended - with Austria in the ascendancy. Andreas Ivanschitz gets to the byeline and pulls the ball back but there's no-one on the end of it. The Austrian supporters are enjoying this.
1805: Croatia haven't scored more than one goal in a match since 'that game'.
1803: Off we go again then.
1802: "I think it will be a fiery Croatian dressing room at half-time. If they don't start quickly in the second half, they could be in trouble."
BBC analyst Alan Hansen
1800: Hang out the bunting, crack open the champagne. Interactive Player Rater has finally joined the Euro 2008 party. Better late than never eh?
1756: "Emanuel Pogatetz is very lucky to still be on the field. He fouled Ivica Olic three times in one incident (see 1731)!"
BBC analyst Gordon Strachan
1755: Croatia's penalty was the quickest in European Championship history, beating the one given to Italy against Germany in 1996 - which was missed by Gianfranco Zola.
1753: "Austria should have done better with their chances."
BBC analyst Alan Hansen
1749: Great start from Croatia but they lost their way a bit there. With better finishing, Austria could have been level.
1748: HALF-TIME Austria 0-1 Croatia
1743: England boss Fabio Capello is at the Enrst Happel Stadion to cast his eye over Croatia - England's opponents in World Cup qualifying. He's no doubt feeling the nerves ahead of a grilling by Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker tomorrow. BBC1 viewers will be able to watch that at 1750 BST during tomorrow's game between Romania and France.
1742: Croatia are all over the place at the moment, but Austria can't capitalise. Joachim Standfest is on the end of a deep cross from the left but heads wide. Slaven Bilic has some stern words for some of his players.
1741: A threat from Austria as Martin Harnik gets to the byeline but he sees his ball across goal cut out by Josip Simunic, with Roland Linz waiting.
1735: Austria's defence goes walkabout and the ball from the right comes all the way to Mladen Petric. The striker has all the time in the world but volleys high and wide. Good chance.
1734: "Re 1724: You get £8 if Austria win the tournament? £8!!! You should be made prime minister."
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1733: If Austria are going to get back into this, it will probably be through a set-piece. They win a corner but Rene Aufhauser makes a mess of what was a difficult header.
1731: Worrying moment for Emmanuel Pogatetz, who has his arms all over Ivica Olic as the striker tries to dart into the box. The ref appears to go to his pocket for a moment but settles for a talking-to. The Mad Dog, already on a yellow, is skating on thin ice.
1728: Austria win a free-kick out left and Andreas Ivanschitz delivers a decent ball - headed wide by Sebastian Prodl.
1724: "I drew Austria in the work sweepstake which I organised. Get £8 if they win or £2 if they are the first to be kicked out. Think I know which amount I'm more likely to get."
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1723: Austria keeper Jurgen Macho charges out of his goal to punch clear - taking out Niko Kranjcar in the process. Kranjcar - who is playing in the city of his birth by the way - is groggy but OK.
1721: Jurgen Saumel is the next man to see yellow for pulling back Niko Kovac. The Croat makes the most of it - but it was a free-kick. Darijo Srna smacks it straight into the wall.
1719: Austrian defender Sebastian Prodl makes a foray into the opposition half and lets fly with a shot from 30 yards. It's swerving but always going wide.
1714: Austria give away a free-kick with another clumsy tackle - this time on the right wing. The delivery from Darijo Srna is dangerous but no-one can get on the end of it.
1712: "The man Croatia have to watch out for is Andreas Ivantschwitz and they're playing him really well at the moment. Every time he gets the ball, both Kovacs close down really tight on him."
BBC analyst Gavin Peacock
1708: Jurgen Samuel has a shot from distance as Austria look to get a foot in the game but it's straight into Croatia keeper Stipe Pletikosa's arms.
1704: GOAL Austria 0-1 Croatia
Rene Aufhaser clatters into Ivica Olica and it's a pretty clear penalty. Emanuel Pogatetz doesn't agree and gets a yellow for complaining. New Spurs signing Luka Modric keeps his cool to slot home the kick. Perfect start for the Croats. Absolute disaster for the hosts.
1703: Penalty to Croatia.
1703: Croatia win an early corner. Darijo Srna takes it short but the training-ground move should have stayed right there. Austria clear.
1700: As we (or maybe it's just me) ponder the Austria/Switzerland, Switzerland/Austria conundrum, the game gets under way.
1659: "If Austria are that bad, why is it 'Euro 2008 - Austria and Switzerland'? Why not 'Switzerland and Austria'? The implications of this are as large as the Lennon and McCartney dispute."
super_stevie_f on 606
An excellent point. I assume the alphabet won the day.
1658: "Right, I'm sick of revision. Come on Austria!"
Dirk's Spaghetti Hair Mmmmm on 606
Are exams still going on? They seem to be never-ending.
1656: I think I heard a blast of Shaggy's official Euro 2008 anthem Feel The Rush as the players lined up. It wasn't as good as either of the national anthems, both excellent, hands on hearts, shouty affairs.
1653: Former Everton and West Ham star Slaven Bilic rallies the Croatian troops in the tunnel and out come the teams. The mascots all appear to be wearing the Romanian strip... which is odd.
1651: Austria appear to be staging a sort of counter opening ceremony. It's not on the scale of last night's events in Basel. A bit of dancing with big scarves.
1650: "Somebody give Austria a chance! Alan Hansen just described them as the only team with no chance whatsoever of winning this tournament. What about Poland?"
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1649: Croatia haven't won a match at a European Championship since 1996 when Davor Suker lobbed Peter Schmeichel in the 3-0 win over Denmark at Hillsborough.
Pick your favourite Euro goal
1644: "Are you ready for the European Championship of 2008?" says our plucky announcer in Vienna. From the reaction of the crowd, I'd say they are you know.
1641: "A lot of people are making Croatia the "dark horses". I just don't see it. I think they will struggle against Austria and Poland and get pasted by Germany. They have a weak back-line and the Austrian manager seems to have assessed their weaknesses very well."
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1637: It sounds like a decent atmosphere at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium. The city has been flooded with an estimated 50,000 Croatia fans, with the home supporters a little less enthusiastic - understandable given their team's chances.
1632: Mind you, Nicky H-J isn't too complimentary about Croatia's strip either. "The checks draw attention upwards so they make the chest look bigger. But it's too busy and the socks don't work with the rest of the outfit."
1627: As if things didn't look bleak enough for our co-hosts, even their strip has come in for a bashing. Speaking to respected football bible, the, er, Radio Times, Ten Years Younger presenter Nicky Hambleton-Jones had this to say: "The red band on the top of the shorts makes the hips look very narrow and skinny, which isn't beneficial if you're trying to look tough and imposing." Oh dear.
1624: "It's spelt Kranjcar Caroline. Expecting a big game from the new Prosinecki today! Come on HRVATSKA!"
Anon via text on 81111
Apologies. That name is my spelling nemesis.
1622: Croatia coach Slaven Bilic revealed his line-up on Saturday. Mladen Petric and Ivica Orlic are charged with scoring Croatia's first goal by a forward since the win over England in November. Let's not talk about that game again though.
1621: So Josef Hickersberger opts for former Sunderland and Chelsea keeper Jurgen Macho in goal while Ronald Gercialiu gets the nod ahead of Christian Fuchs in midfield. Martin Harnik and Roland Linz are the "fleet-footed strikers" (see 1613).
1618: TEAMS
Austria: Macho, Standfest, Stranzl, Pogatetz, Aufhauser, Linz, Ivanschitz, Gercaliu, Proedl, Saeumel, Harnik.
Croatia: Pletikosa, Simunic, R Kovac, Corluka, N Kovac, Srna, Modric, Olic, Kranjcar, Petric, Pranjic.
1616: "I'm going for two thrashings today. Germany 3-1 and Croatia 4-0. Should be exciting games with much more attacking play than yesterday."
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1613: "Their central defence is vulnerable. With our fleet-footed strikers, we can hurt them." Those are not the words of Croatia coach Slaven Bilic, you may be surprised to learn. It is actually Austria boss Josef Hickersberger. We shall see...
1600: Hello there. We're off to Austria* today, famous for skiing, alpine horns, Arnie Schwarzenegger, Mozart... and emphatically not football. The co-hosts are nestled just below Mozambique in the world rankings, and have not won a match at a major tournament since beating the USA 18 years ago.
* Metaphorically speaking. Clearly, I'm actually in Shepherds Bush. No deceiving of audiences here.
BIG MATCH STATS
Head-to-heads
Austria and Croatia have met three times before, all encounters were friendlies.
Croatia won all three matches, most recently on 23 May 2006 when they won 4-1 in Vienna. Ivan Klasnic (2), Bosko Balaban and Marko Babic scored for the visitors. Andreas Ivanschitz scored the only goal for Austria.
Team facts - Austria
Are making their European Championship debut. Four nations have won this tournament on their debut. They are: Soviet Union (1960), Spain (1964), Italy (1968), West Germany (1972). The last host nation to win this tournament was France in 1984.
Austria's 5-1 win over Malta in their final warm-up match marked just their second win in the last 16 matches. They have not won any of their last six matches in the Ernst Happel Stadion.
Team facts - Croatia
Taking part in a European Championship for the third time. Their best performance came in 1996 when they reached the quarter-finals.
Coach Slaven Bilic played in all four of Croatia's matches that year. Bilic will be 38 years and 271 days old on Sunday, making him the fifth youngest coach in the history of this tournament. Slovenia's Srecko Katanec became the youngest coach ever at a European Championships. He was 36 years 333 days during the 2000 tournament.
Failed to win their last five matches at European Championships (two draws, three defeats). Their last European Championship win dates back to 16 June 1996, when they beat Denmark 3-0 in the group phase.
Player facts - Austria
Rene Aufhauser was Austria's top scorer with six goals during their two-year friendly campaign (24 matches).
Backup goalkeeper Ramazan Ozcan (Hoffenheim) joins Poland's Marek Saganowski (Southampton) and Germany's Oliver Neuville (Borussia Monchengladbach) as the only Euro 2008 players to have played their 2007-08 club football below the top flight.
If selected, Martin Hiden will be making his 50th international appearance for Austria.
Ivica Vastic is the only player in the squad who has ever played at a major international tournament. He played in three matches at the 1998 Fifa World Cup.
Player facts - Croatia
Dario Simic returns to a European Championship tournament for the third time, following Euro 96 and Euro 2004. He has played four previous matches at this tournament which makes him Croatia's joint record holder.
Hrvoje Vejic will turn 31 on the day of this match.
Eduardo da Silva was Croatia's top scorer in qualification with 10 goals. He will miss Euro 2008 after suffering a broken leg while playing for Arsenal in the Premier League in February.
Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports
BIG MATCH STATS
Head-to-heads
Germany and Poland have met on 15 previous occasions. Poland have never beaten Germany and have managed only four draws and 11 defeats.
Their last confrontation occurred on 14 June 2006 at the Fifa World Cup in Germany, when the hosts won 1-0, courtesy of an Oliver Neuville goal in extra time.
The last time Poland avoided defeat against Germany was in the opening match of the 1978 Fifa World Cup (1 June 1978) when they played out a goalless draw.
Team facts - Germany
Won the European Championship a record three times (1972, 1980 and 1996).
They will also be making a record 10th appearance at the European Championship. The Germans have been ever present since their victorious debut in 1972.
Also hold the record for European Championship matches played (32) and won (15).
Have not won a European Championship match since triumphant in the final of Euro 96 against the Czech Republic.
They are currently on a six match winless streak in this tournament which is a German record and the joint longest current streak together with Switzerland's.
Been knocked out in the group phase in their last two European Championship appearances. In the history of the competition, no nation has been eliminated in three successive group phases.
Team facts - Poland
Making their debut at the European Championship, having already participated in seven Fifa World Cups. The last nation to win the competition on their debut was (West) Germany in 1972.
Dutchman Leo Beenhakker will be coaching in his third major tournament, having led the Netherlands in the 1990 Fifa World Cup and Trinidad and Tobago in the 2006 Fifa World Cup.
At the 1990 World Cup, Beenhakker's reigning European champions Holland were knocked out by West Germany in the second round.
Player facts - Germany
Three players in the German squad (Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and Piotr Trochowski) were born in Poland.
Miroslav Klose will celebrate his 30th birthday the day after this match.
Player facts - Poland
With David Healy (Northern Ireland) failing to qualify and Eduardo da Silva (Croatia) missing because of injury, Poland's Ebi Smolarek (nine goals) is the top marksman from qualifying to actually take part in Euro 2008.
Jacek Krzynowek (VfL Wolfsburg) and Jakub Blaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund) play their club football in Germany.
Poland's Marek Saganowski (Southampton) joins Germany's Oliver Neuville (Borussia Monchengladbach) and Austria's Ramazan Ozcan (Hoffenheim) as the only Euro 2008 players to have played their 2007-08 club football below the top flight.
Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports
(BBC)
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