For Croatia a
performance that just about encompassed everything that the Sunday game against
Austria was not. Comfortable, composed and confident Croatia was well organized
and prepared to largely stifle the Germans attacking options.
Germany may
have had the edge in play but it was Croatia that had the definite advantage in
clear chances. With Kranjcar moving into a more central role Germany had
trouble dealing with the numerical advantage that Croatia held in midfield.
Marcell
Jansen underwent a torrid time at left back and his failure to deal with Pranjic’s
cross (a reminder of how very few crosses we have seen so far in this
tournament) saw Srna turning the ball in at the back post for the first goal. Not
long after Kranjcar had another great chance but Lehmann pulled of####reat
reaction save.
Not
surprisingly Jansen was substituted at half time with Fritz dropping back to
right back and Lahm switching sides. Impact player Odonkor came on ............but failed
to make any impact. Croatia’s second goal (from Olic) seemed to have put the
game well beyond Germany reach only for Podolski to score a cracker. The effect
of the goal may have clouded how good a goal it actually was.
But with ten
minutes left and their lead halved rather than panicking Croatians moved into
what was their most impressive spell of the game. Playing in three and fours
with one touch passing Croatia killed off the game and left only enough time
for Bastian Schweinsteiger to get
himself sent off.
Croatia within a hairs breadth of qualification and Germany now has to
beat Austria and even then they may still have to keep fingers crossed.
Man of the match – Given a free role by Slaven Bilic Niko Kranjcar proved impossible for Germany
to control.
Austria 1-1 Poland
It was a match that delivered much more in the way of incident and excitement than might have been expected. Austria came away with a
share of the points after it looked as if their pressure – particularly in the
first half – was again destined to deliver nothing. A point each keeps both
countries in with a chance to advance but Austria could have had this one
wrapped up in bows before thirty minutes was on the clock.
The Austrians streamed
forward in waves with Korkmaz and Harnik raiding almost at will down the flanks.
As the Polish defence went AWOL it was Artur Boruc vs. Austria. The Celtic
keeper stymied Austria at least four times and he was the reason Poland was
still in the game by the time they took the lead.
The goal came completely
against the run of play as it so often does and it came from a
Southampton-Brazil combo accompanied by a hint of offside. Southampton’s Marek
Saganowski saw his “shot” find Brazilian import Roger Guerreiro who had no
trouble from close in.
The goal took the sting
out of Austria’s attack in as much as they stopped creating chances although
still enjoyed the edge in possession. The second half lacked the cut and thrust
from Austria as the Polish defence reasserted their position. Then with stoppage
time minutes ticking down and a second Polish goal on the break looking more likely
than goal from the co-hosts – finally a goal for Austria and from the penalty spot.
The old man of the
tournament Ivica Vastic put his foot through the shot and the valiant
Boruc went the wrong way.
Update – No group B tie breaker is possible. Croatia qualify
as group winners and will play Turkey or the Czech Republic. Germany will join them
with a win or a draw against Austria. An Austrian win combined with Poland not
beating Croatia will put the co-hosts into the last eight. However, in order to
finish second Poland needs to beat Croatia by a goal more than Austria beats Germany
by. So Germany or Austria or Poland will play a rested Portugal.
Comment of the Day
"People
often think coaches can predict results. Coaches are like you, they are very
bad at giving predictions.” - Arsène Wenger
Tie Breaker
There seems to be a fair bit of confusion regarding the tie breaker rule for the group stage.
Excerpt Competition
Regulations – 7.07 and 7.08
If two or more teams finish equal on points after
all the group matches have been played, the following criteria will be applied
to determine the ranking :
(a) Greater number of points obtained in the matches
between the teams in question.
(b) Goal difference resulting from the matches
between the teams in question (if more than two teams finish equal).
(c) Greater number of goals scored in the matches
between the teams in question (if more than two teams finish equal).
(d) Goal difference in all the group matches.
(e) Greater number of goals scored in all the group
matches.
(f) Coefficient of points from the last two
qualifying competitions for the final rounds of the 2006 World Cup and Euro
2008 (points gained and divided by the number of matches played).
(g) Fair Play conduct of the teams (final
tournament).
(h) A drawing of lots by the Organizing Committee.
Criteria (a) to (h) above are not applicable
under these circumstances :
If two teams meeting in one of the last group
matches have the same number of points, the same goal difference and the same
number of goals, and if this match stands at a draw at the end of normal time,
then the ranking of these two teams will be determined by kicks from the
penalty spot, provided no other teams within the group have the same number of
points on completion of all group matches.
Austria Austria has never played in the Euro Championships Finals.
How they qualified It was an epic struggle that was played out in the soccer boardrooms, conference centres and bars of Europe. Along the way Russia, Hungary, four Nordic countries, Croatia and Bosnia, Greece and Turkey, Scotland and Ireland were all outmanouvered and eventually beaten by a unprecedented and overpowering display of power point presentations, computer animations, and scenic views of very large snow capped mountains.
The Coach Josef Hickersberger is in charge of the national team for a second time having helped Austria to Italia ’90. However, a shock 1-0 loss to the Faroe Islands in Euro ’92 qualifying brought his first spell to an abrupt end. This was the Faroe Islands first win in a competitive competition and the two countries have been drawn together in World Cup 2010 World Cup qualifying.
Key Players Former Sunderland and Chelsea goalkeeper Jurgen Macho looks set to start for Austria. Macho moved to Rapid Vienna for a short spell after leaving Stamford Bridge and then switched to Kaiserlautern in Germany before settling at AEK Athens last summer. Captain Andreas Ivanschitz is another Greek based player and is on a two year loan with Panathinaikos and generally plays in an attacking midfield role.
Great Euro Memory The announcement on December 12, 2002 by then UEFA President Lennart Johannsen that Austria and Switzerland would stage the tournament.
Synopsis Austria’s performances on the international stage have been so bad that at one point some fans raised a petition calling for the team to default and allow another country to take their place.
(Remenbering their success in 1992 after entering through the backdoor the Danes were excited at that prospect but nothing came of it.)
Unusually for a host nation expectations are at rock bottom. It is certainly a long way from the iconic Austrian side of the early 30s or even the team of Hans Krankl that went to the 78 and 82 World Cups. One win would be better than expected for this Austrian side.
Coming Up in World Cup Qualifying In Group 7 together with France, Romania, Serbia, Lithuania and Faroe Islands.
Croatia Croatia previously qualified for the 1996 and 2004 finals and made it to the quarter finals in 1996 before losing 2-1 to the eventual tournament winners Germany.
How they qualified As every English supporter can tell you Croatia won Group E with a game to spare and five points better than runners-up Russia. Eduardo da Silva was the man that led the scoring for Croatia with ten goals – only three behind David Healy of Northern Ireland who led all scorers with thirteen. Mladen Petric was next with seven goals.
The Coach Charismatic coach Slaven Bilic was in charge of the Under-21 side before stepping up to the senior team two summers ago. Bilic was member of the 1996 Euro side and also played two years later in the team that finished third at the World Cup in France.
As a player he plied his trade in Germany and in England with West Ham and Everton. A successful Euro 08 will only fuel the speculation that a managerial move to a Premiership team will come sooner rather than later.
Key Players The team is extremely well balanced although playmaker Luka Modric has received most of the attention to date. Modric has already signed for Tottenham Hotspur a next season he will play in the Premiership.
Croatia must get over the loss of top striker Eduardo da Silva who had his leg horrifically broken earlier this year while playing for Arsenal in the Premiership. Borussia Dortmund striker Mladen Pertric might pick up the slack.
Ivica Olic is more than capable of scoring goals as is Parma striker Igor Budan who enjoyed a good run of form towards the end of the Serie A season. The midfield is another area of strength with Niko Kranjcar a recognizable name to followers of the Premiership. The Kovac brothers Niko and Robert provide years of top class experience to the team both in defence and midfield.
Great Euro Memory After beating Turkey 1-0 in their very first finals game in 1996, Croatia followed the result up with an emphatic 3-0 shellacking of reigning champions Denmark. All three goals came in the second half with a double from Davor #### and he also set up the other for Zvonimir Boban.
Synopsis Croatia is considered to be a dark horse and one of the leading second tier contenders after the likes of France, Italy, and Germany. If there is a weakness in the side it may be in goal with Spartak Moscow keeper Stipe Pletikosa.
Coming Up in World Cup Qualifying Will meet England once again as well as Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra in Group 6.
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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