An early penalty earned Croatia a 1-0 win over Austria, but the hosts dominated for long periods and will feel unfortunate to come away empty-handed.

Jurgen Macho was preferred to Siena man Alex Manninger between the posts for Austria and Milan stopper Dario Simic missed out for Croatia.

The Austrians were looking to do better than co-hosts Switzerland who lost their opener against the Czech Republic on Saturday.

But their European Championships started in nightmare fashion when they fell behind within four minutes.

Rene Aufhauser clumsily knocked Ivica Olic off his feet for a clear penalty, even if Emanuel Pogatetz was booked for his protests, and Tottenham new boy Luka Modric calmly stroked the spot-kick home right down the middle.

A Modric free-kick agonisingly whistled across the face of goal and the Croat fans drowned out the worried local supporters.

Samuel pulled back Niko Kovac whose dramatic dive impressed the referee sufficiently to show the yellow card.

Andreas Ivanschitz whipped in a dangerous ball from a free-kick, but Sebastian Prodl headed wide of the target.

Pogatetz was lucky not to be sent off after half an hour when he clashed with Olic, bringing him down and aiming a kick at the Croatian hitman.

Olic’s amateur dramatics didn’t draw the red card from the referee, but Pogatetz was clearly rattled.

Petric had a fantastic chance for 2-0 when a ball dropped to him unmarked on the edge of the box, but he hurried his swing and his effort flew over the bar.

Austria battled back before half-time and so nearly levelled when Ivanschitz’s ball caught Josep Simunic out of position but Martin Harnik’s cut back ball from the byline was cut out by a Simunic recovery.

Joachim Standfest should have done better when he was allowed a free header from a deep cross but he headed wide as Croatia’s defence snoozed.

Croatia went into the break 1-0 up, but Austria had given them something to think about.

Robert Kovac was booked for upending Linz who had broken away and Modric tripped Standfest moments later as the tackles started to fly in.

Modric continued to cause trouble and won a corner that Niko Kovac headed over from six yards.

The oldest player in the tournament Croatian-born 38-year-old Ivica Vastic came on for Samuel in an aggresive substitution for Austria and was given a rousing reception.

Meanwhile, Livorno defender Dario Knezevic replaced Niko Kranjcar.

Prodl picked up a well deserved booking for felling Olic after the livewire broke past him, but his cynical foul successfully broke up a dangerous move.

Parma’s Igor Budan replaced Petric with 19 minutes remaining, but Austria were piling on the pressure.

Substitute Umit Korkmaz was full of life and earned a free-kick from the wing, but Stipe Pletikosa punched it away.

The Croats were hardly able to get the ball out of their own box and Pletikosa had to tip the ball out of box again before he made hard work of a routine save from Vastic.

Harnik forced a corner with nine minutes left but Budan headed clear and the ball was eventually scuffed away.

There were shouts for handball in the Croatian box against Knezevic, but the referee wasn’t interested.

Korkmaz’s shot was parried by a diving Pletikosa as Austria camped in Croatia’s box.

Croatia pushed forward with time running out for the Austrians and collected two corners, but they couldn’t convert two promising balls into shots on target.

In the final minute of stoppage time Ivanschitz’s free-kick flashed through the box, but it went wide without a touch and a hard-fought win was Croatia’s.

Austria showed that they won’t be pushovers, but they looked worryingly short of firepower, as did the victorious Croats.
Austria (probable): Macho; Prodl, Stranzl, Pogatetz, Aufhauser; Samuel (Vastic 60), Standfest, Gercaliu (Korkmaz 69), Ivanschitz; Harnik, Linz (Kienast 73)

Croatia (probable): Pletikosa; Corluka, R Kovac, Simunic, Pranjic; Srna, N Kovac, Modric, Kranjcar (Knezevic 61); Petric (Budan 71), Olic (Vukojevic 82)

Ref From channel4.com