Austria vs Germany
in Vienna.
Monday, 16th June at 20.45
With Croatia winning Group B, it's still open for second place. Austria will meet
Portugal if they beat Germany and Poland don't beat Croatia by a larger margin. For
Germany, a draw will be enough.
If Austria and Poland finish level on points, goal difference and
goals scored, Poland's qualifying coefficients give them the edge; as Austria didn't have
to qualify for Euro 2008.
Germany started by passing the ball around the back to try and
establish some feel of possession; to jeers from the Austrian fans.
In the fifth minute Mario Gomez hardly showed the quality of a 28
goal-getter this season for VfB Stuttgart; as he toed the ball into the air instead of
making an easy side-foot, after being beautifully set up by Miroslav Klose. Gyorgy Garics,
facing the goal - on the Austrian line - back-headed the ball out of danger; before Gomez
could make amends with his own head.
Austria could have had a penalty claim when Erwin Hoffer was helped on
his way down in the penalty area by Christoph Metzelder, after a long-ball forward
troubled the German defence - yet again.
Two minutes later, Jens Lehmann had to save at the feet of Erwin
Hoffer; as Austria continued to look for the breakthrough that would send the home fans
ecstatic.
Austria at times have looked the better team going forward but they
just don't have any clinical finishers. Germany, on the other hand, just tried not to get
themselves frustrated with each other again and seemed content to hold on to the draw -
which would be enough for them to qualify.
Instead, it was the the two coaches who showed their frustration on
the touchline and were shown to the stands by Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez.
Half-time - 0:0
Erwin Hoffer troubled the German defence right from re-start but
didn't really feel confident about what to do and his hesitation gave Mertesacker time to
scramble the ball away.
Then the Austrian captain, Andreas Ivanschitz, entered the referee's
book and Michael Ballack thundered a shot from the free-kick, into the top right-hand
corner.
The command from the stands was to bring on Christoph Leitgeb for
Martin Hiden, in the 55th minute, as Austria sought to get back into the game.
Jurgen Macho received quite a knock, when saving at the feet of
Miroslav Klose, but had to carry on in pain as Austria had used all their three
substitutes.
Germany didn't excell at all but they did enough to get through to the
knockout stage.
Final Score:
Austria 0 - Germany 1
Goalscorers:
0:1 Michael Ballack (49)
Teams
Austria:
21 Jurgen Macho; 4 Emanuel Pogatetz, 17 Martin Hiden, 3 Martin Stranzl, 14 Gyorgy Garics;
5 Christian Fuchs, 10 Andreas Ivanschitz, 6 Rene Aufhauser; 11 Umit Korkmaz, 22 Erwin
Hoffer, 20 Martin Harnik.
Germany:
1 Jens Lehmann; 16 Philip Lahm, 21 Christoph Metzelder, 17 Per Mertesacker, 3 Arne
Friedrich; 20 Lukas Podolski, 13 Michael Ballack, 8 Torsten Frings, 4 Clemens Fritz; 11
Miroslav Klose, 9 Mario Gomez.
Referee:
Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain)
Substitutions:
55 Mins - 8 Christoph Leitgeb on for 17 Martin Hiden
60 Mins - 15 Thomas Hitzlsperger on for 9 Mario Gomez
63 Mins - 19 Jürgen Säumel on for 6 Rene Aufhauser
67 Mins - 18 Roman Kienast on for 20 Martin Harnik
83 Mins - 10 Oliver Neuville on for 20 Lukas Podolski
93 Mins - 18 Tim Borowski on for 4 Clemens Fritz
 3 Yellow Cards:
13 Mins - Martin Stranzl (Austria)
31 Mins - Erwin Hoffer (Austria)
48 Mins - Andreas Ivanschitz (Austria)
Poland vs Croatia
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