Michael Ballack shattered Austria’s dreams of making the quarter-finals with a spectacular second half free kick.

The 31-year-old attacking midfielder broke the deadlock after 49 minutes, unleashing a rocket from all of 30 yards, which goalkeeper Jurgen Macho was helpless to prevent.

The game will be remembered, however, for the mishaps of Mannschaft striker Mario Gomez, who managed to miss an open goal earlier in the game.

The Stuttgart forward received a ball from the right, two yards in front of the net, which he spooned with considerable aplomb.

It is likely to be the last we see of Gomez this summer after a hat trick of unconvincing performances.

The Austrians as a whole were a pitiful attacking force. Their best chance fell to captain Andreas Ivanschitz whose shot was parried away.

Germany began the game nervously and appeared to curb their attacking instincts, as if playing for a draw.

Coach Joachim Löw’s strategy proved to be a risky one. His side appeared tense and were guilty of giving the ball away on several occasions.

Luckily for them, the Austrians, as so often this June, were unable to take advantage of their opponents’ weaknesses.

Despite showing real attacking pedigree against the Poles, Josef Hickersberger’s men only burst through the German defensive wall once.

Erwin ‘Jimmy’ Hoffer found himself through on goal, but disappointed his public with a heavy first touch, which took the ball and the chance away from him.

The frustration was palpable and evident in the reactions of the two tacticians who were both sent to the stands before the half time whistle.

Löw’s dismissal appeared to charge the Germans who left their dressing room at half time a changed team.

Gone was the lethargic demeanour that characterised their first 45 minutes and out came a purposeful, more threatening Mannschaft.

That attitude was embodied in the marauding runs of Philipp Lahm, who won the free kick that led to Michael Ballack’s goal.

The Austrians bulging net dampened the atmosphere in the stadium and the crowd were then treated to the death throes of the co-hosts who launched long ball after long ball into the German box.

They were futile and the final whistle could not come soon. Germany will play Portugal in the quarter-finals.
Austria: Macho; Stranzl, Pogatetz, Hiden (Leitgeb 55), Garics; Ivanschitz, Aufhauser (Samuel 63), Harnik (Kienast 67), Fuchs; Korkmaz, Hoffer

Germany: Lehmann; Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm; Fritz (Borowski 90), Frings, Ballack, Podolski (Neuville 83); Gomez (Hitzlsperger 60), Klose

Ref: Mejuto Gonzalez (Spa)

Ref From channel4.com

Poland went out with a whimper as a second string Croatia beat them 1-0 to make it three wins from three.

Croatia knew that qualification for the quarter-finals and indeed top spot in Group B was secure after their superb win over Germany and Coach Slaven Bilic took the chance to rest almost all his key personnel.

Only Juventus target Ivan Rakitic and Danijel Pranjic survived from the team that stunned the Germans and there was space for Milan outcast Dario Simic and Livorno stopper Dario Knezevic.

Poland boss Leo Beenhakker made four changes from the team that drew with Austria as Jakub Wawrzyniak, Rafal Murawski, Wojciech Lobodzinski and Roger Guerreiro handed starts.

The Poles knew that even a win wouldn’t be enough if Germany beat Austria in Vienna and goal difference would be decisive in the unlikely event of Austrian and Polish victories - in truth they needed a two-goal triumph.

As expected, the Poles pushed hard from the first whistle and Croatian goalkeeper Vedran Runje had to be alert to punch a Lobodzinski cross clear of Jacek Krzynowek.

The resultant corner was headed behind for another, which Napoli target Dariusz Dudka met but his header flashed wide.

Croatia flexed their muscles with a quarter of an hour played as Rakitic linked with Nikola Pokrivac before the ball fell to Pranjic, who should have done better than a half-hearted cross/shot.

And the Croats were inches away from going ahead with a Rakitic free-kick, which Hrvoje Vejic headed past the post.

It was the Rakitic show as he tested Artur Boruc’s capabilities by beating two men to swing a dangerous cross, but the Celtic No 1 was up to the task.

Pranjic’s magnificent ball was inches away from being converted by Petric, but the linesman’s flag was up anyway.

Knezevic had to be replaced by Vedran Corluka due to an injury.

Boruc came to the rescue after half an hour to deny Klasnic with his legs in a one-on-one situation, as Croatia looked menacing.

And Boruc was again decisive when he clawed a Rakitic effort out for a corner.

Jerko Leko dragged a dangerous-looking effort wide of the goal as the Polish defence opened up a little.

But Poland finished the first half the stronger without creating any clear-cut chances as tempers started to flare and three yellow cards were produced within 10 minutes.

Guerreiro started the second half with a decent effort that stung Runje’s palms, but news that Germany had gone ahead against Austria filtered through and took the wind out of the Poles’ sails.

And Poland’s tournament was as good as over when Pranjic’s ball found Klasnic to make it 1-0 Croatia - the Poles needed to score three times and for Austria to find the net twice!

Beenhakker threw on Ebi Smolarek - the top scorer in the qualification tournament - with 40 minutes to go.

Krzynowek tried to strike back, but his effort was dragged harmlessly wide of the posts.

Pranjic so nearly added to Poland’s misery when his cross bounced off the top of the bar.

Guerreiro came close for Poland with a neat effort on the turn that flashed past the post, but minutes later Borc did well to deny Pranjic.

Runje made a fine stop to deny Marek Saganowski’s back post header and Smolarek fired two decent efforts narrowly wide of the mark.

Smolarek’s ball fell to Zahorski but he somehow managed to hit the ball at the onrushing Runje in a one-one-one. It was the story of the Poles’ competition.

There was nothing left in the game and it fizzled out. Croatia will face Turkey in the quarter-finals and Poland will go home to reflect on a miserable competition.
Poland: Boruc; Wasilewski, Zewlakow, Dudka, Wawrzyniak; Lobodzinski (Smolarek 55), Murawski, Guerreiro, Lewandowski (Kokoszka 46); Krzynowek, Saganowski (Zahorski 69).

Croatia: Runje; Simic, Vejic, Knezevic (Corluka 27), Prznjic; Leko, Vukojevic, Pokrivac, Rakitic; Klasnic (Kalinic 73), Petric (Kranjcar 74)

Ref: Vassaras (Gre)

Ref From channel4.com

This is the match that settles Italy’s fate. To clear up the confusion, a Romanian win eliminates the Azzurri regardless of what happens in their game.

A draw in this encounter combined with an Italian draw also eliminates Roberto Donadoni – and Victor Piturca’s side could even lose by a margin of three goals or less, but strangely not exactly 3-0, and still progress. A win for Holland combined with a result either way in the other match will end Romania’s participation.

The permutations are myriad and confusing, but the main thing that Romania need to know is that they hold their own fate in their hands. If they can beat Holland then they will go into the quarter-finals – and that is all that will be concerning them. The speculation suggests that Holland will sit back and take it easy in order to ensure France and Italy go home, but the Eastern Europeans are more than capable of doing the job themselves.

“We have recorded two draws against the most powerful teams in the world,” explained defender Cosmin Contra. “We need to go in hard against Holland.” Meanwhile, the skipper Cristian Chivu has no qualms about hurting the hopes of his employing nation. “Nobody gave us a chance to qualify, or get past the best teams,” said the Inter defender. “We want to reach the quarterfinals and we want to send France and Italy home.”

The conspiracy theorists on the peninsula are wondering whether Holland Coach Marco Van Basten will ease off the gas with his side already qualified for the last eight. Two great performances have earned them the right to rest players in this match, but MVB insists he won’t be taking this match lightly.

“We don’t talk about an ‘A’ team and a ‘B’ team. We have 23 full internationals,” the former Milan striker explained of his side. “The fact we have qualified already is nice but we still want to perform at our best.” He definitely has options on his bench if he wishes to shuffle the pack. Outstanding Ajax attacker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has yet to even get a minute of playing time and will be eager to impress if he plays, while both Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben have made their impacts as substitutes.

Piturca has a headache defensively, given that Mirel Radoi is out of the tournament with a bad facial injury and Dorin Goian is suspended. Chivu is likely to drop back into defence with exciting midfielder Banel Nicolita likely to benefit by taking a starting shirt.

Romania have the Indian sign over the Dutch at the moment, having beaten and drawn with them in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Consequently a win for Adrian Mutu & Co may not be the shocking surprise that some may claim after the event. Having missed a vital penalty against Italy the Fiorentina striker will feel he owes his nation. “I will make up for it in the match against the Holland,” he promised. We shall have to wait and see if that is the case.

Key clash: Cristian Chivu v Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
The Romanian captain has been forced to go back into defence due to injuries and he will be tested to the limit if the Dutch decided to unleash Huntelaar in this game. The Ajax striker missed out on the squad for the World Cup and this time around has been restricted to watching from the bench. He will be itching to show the world what he can do and certainly won’t give Romania’s centre-backs any leeway in this clash.

Italian connection:
Holland’s Edwin Van Der Sar had a spell on the books of Juventus while the Romanian trio of Chivu, Mutu and Paul Codrea all ply their trade in Serie A.

Did You Know..?
This is the third time the two nations have met in the last 17 months. A 0-0 draw in Rotterdam in March 2007 was followed by a 1-0 win for Romania in October 2007 – the scorer being defender Goian. Both those games were in Euro 2008 qualifiers.

The defeat in October 2007 was the first time Romania had beaten Holland. The two nations also met in qualifiers for World Cup 2006 with the Dutch winning both.

Van Basten appeared for the Dutch national side in their final warm-up match before Euro ’88 – which they went on to win. Back in those days the European Championship was contested by just eight sides, this match will be Holland’s last before this event reaches a knockout stage involving an octagon of nations.

Van Basten has also faced Piturca before. They met in the 1989 European Cup Final which the Dutch boss won with Milan over Steaua Bucharest.
Holland (probable): To follow

Romania (probable): To follow

Ref: Busacca (Swi)

Ref From channel4.com