Germany 1-0 Austria

Austria 0-1 Germany: Ballack strike sets up Portugal showdown
By John Cross In Vienna 17/06/2008

(pic:Getty Images)
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Michael Ballack set up a quarter-final showdown with his new Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari with a contender for goal of Euro 2008.

Germany captain Ballack struck a stunning 25-yard free-kick into the top corner to clinch a meeting with Scolari's Portugal in Basel on Thursday. Ballack's brilliant 49th-minute pile driver was enough to dump Austria out which means both co-hosts suffered humiliating first round exits.

The front page of an Austrian newspaper had a picture of a naked man's body on the front with Ballack's head imposed on top with a banner headline screaming: "Rip the Germans' trousers off."

But it was the Chelsea man who gave the home side a spanking.
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Ever since the draw was made, the Austrians have been relishing the chance to beat their neighbours. But little did they imagine it would be a play-off for a quarter-final place.

The Germans should have taken an early lead.

Striker Miroslav Klose broke down the right, played a low cross to Mario Gomez who, just three yards out, somehow scuffed the ball in front of an open goal and Gyorgy Garics headed clear from almost underneath his own crossbar.

It was an astonishing miss which just about summed up the early tension in the Ernst-Happel Stadion and, for all of Germany's possession and superiority, they looked nervous while Austria rarely found any rhythm.

Austria also lacked quality and when half chances fell to Erwin Hoffer and Rene Aufhauser Germany's former Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann was quick to pounce on the danger.

Germany were also denied as Lukas Podolski's low 25-yard drive was brilliantly pushed round by Austria keeper Jurgen Macho in the 23rd minute. But tempers and frustrations began to boil over before half time. First, Aufhauser was lucky not to be sent off after appearing to punch Podolski.

Then both managers, Germany's Joachim Loew and Austria's Josef Hickersberger were both sent to the stands in disgrace by Spanish referee Manuel Gonzalez as they appeared to be shouting abuse and leaving their technical areas.

Both coaches shook hands as they made their way up to the stands and immediately took his seat in the directors' box next to the German chancellor Angela Merkel who appeared to try and console Loew.

The second half started as scrappily as the first had ended - but Austria paid a heavy price for Andreas Ivanschitz's clumsy 48th minute foul on Philipp Lahm.

Chelsea midfielder Ballack took the free-kick and hit a stunning 25 yard drive into the top corner for one of the goals of Euro 2008 to provide a rare piece of quality which was enough to take Germany into the quarter-finals. Austria's former Sunderland keeper Macho was then hurt when he bravely dived at the feet of the on-rushing Klose, at the expense of a corner.

And in injury-time German substitute Oliver Neuville dribbled through the home defence only to fire wide.

Austria: Macho, Garics, Stranzl, Hiden, Pogatetz, Harnik, Aufhauser, Ivanschitz, Fuchs, Korkmaz, Hoffer.

Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Fritz, Frings, Ballack, Podolski, Gomez, Klose.

from: http://www.mirror.co.uk/