Monday, 16 June 2008
Day ten of GroundReport’s exclusive on-the-ground coverage of Euro2008.
Germany have safely clinched their berth in the quarterfinals of Euro2008 wih a dazzling strike from captain Michael Ballack, eliminating co-hosts Austria and setting a date with Group A winners Portugal on Thursday.
In the other Group B match of the day, Croatia defeated Poland 1-0 to take all three points and stifle any chance that the Poles had in advancing to the knockout stages.
Chelsea FC mid-fielder Michael Ballack scored the tournament’s first goal from a direct free kick in the 49th minute to put the three-time European champions into title contention again. The Germans took control of the game early and kept the Osterreich in check throughout the match, exploiting a somewhat disorganized Austrian defense with an onslaught of crosses and nifty pass combinations. In the fifth minute, twenty-two year old Mario Gomez missed the chance of the tournament to put his side up 1-0 when he mis-hit a brilliant cross from fellow striking partner Miroslav Klose. Klose had wreaked havoc in the Austrian defense single-handedly when he split two defenders down the right wing and fed Gomez across the face of goal a yard off the goal-line, but the Bundesliga striker booted the ball straight up into the air instead into the back of the net before Austrian defender Gyorgy Garics headed the ball clear from the goal-line.
The Austrians to their credit showed spurts of life throughout the first half, creating several opportunities down the wings and peppering the German defense with some quality crosses in an effort to find the equalizer. In the 18th minute, Erwin Hoffer collected a long through-ball by Emmanuel Pogatetz but immediately stumbled over German defender Per Mertesacker after what looked like a shirt-tug that should have resulted in an Austrian penalty kick. Hoffer had another near-opportunity in the 19th minute when he was fed a through-ball past the last line of German defense, but his touch failed him and the German back four casually cleared the ball out of danger.
Confusion erupted in the 41st when Spanish referee Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez sent both managers off for what officials later described as “constant bickering.” Joachim Low and Josef Hickersberger, who had been in heated conversation for several minutes before the encounter with the referees, shook hands and moved into the stands to watch the remainder of the match as spectators, while the crowd and benches booed the officials. German chancellor Angela Merkel respectfully moved up a row to make way for the German manager.
Then, within five minutes of the re-start, Ballack struck a marvelous free-kick from 30 yards out to seal the match for his side. The Austrians continued to huff and puff their way past the German defense for an opportunity, but they looked to be out of it, relinquishing possession consistently and lacking the quality and individual skill-sets to test the German keeper.
Croatia in the meantime had fielded their reserve squad against Poland in their Group B fixture in Klagenfurt, having already secured top-seed in the group after their win over Germany last Thursday. The Poles, who needed to win by two goals or more and then see Austria defeat Germany in order to go through to the quarterfinals, could not ignite their offense in a match that Croatia effectively dominated. Keeper Artur Boruc kept Poland in the match during the first half, coming up with saves on half a dozen one-on-one opportunities the Croatians created, but in the 52nd minute of play, utility striker Ivan Klasnic tucked away the winner from inside the penalty box to seal all three points for the Croats. The Poles looked utterly dejected and lifeless throughout the match, turning over the ball needlessly and committing untimely fouls to spoil any chance of a comeback.
Germany now face Portugal on Thursday in Basel, while Croatia face Group A runners-up Turkey on Friday in Vienna.
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