By Sam Poplett ⋅ June 9, 2008 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Euro 2008, Tottenham

Tottenham’s new signing Luca Modric celebrated his winning goal

It has been a somewhat predictable and unsurprising opening two days to the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland, with all four of the favourites for their games, Portugal and Czech Republic on Saturday, Germany and Croatia on Sunday, picking up maximum points. In fact, the ‘underdogs’ haven’t even scored a single goal between them although, as ever, the statistics don’t quite tell the entire story.

Yesterday it was Group B’s turn to stake their claims for the European crown, with Croatia up against Austria, the co-hosts, first on the schedule. It was a match which should have been a simple formality; the Austrians had neven before participated in a European Championships tournament, and it was only due to the fact that they are the joint hosts of the event that they even made it this year. However, everything they lacked in quality and ability, they made up for with fight and determination. This was a side that knew they were out of their depth, yet were determined to do their utmost to provide a shock, if not for themselves for the thousands of Austrians who have been whole-heartedly supporting their nation.

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If Croatia had not been awarded a fourth-minute penalty, who knows what would have happened in Vienna, as the Croats looked shaky and anything but serious contenders in this competition. Before the tournament there were quite a few who secretly fancied Slaven Bilic’s side to ruffle a few feathers; after all, qualification at England’s expense in Group E was an achievement in itself, yet a clear message of intent to the rest of the continent. When Ivica Olic, the Croatian striker, was felled inside the area with a clumsy challenge from Rene Aufhauser, there was only ever going to be one outcome. It was a stone-wall penalty, and no matter how hard the host nation protested, the referee made the correct decision. The finish from twelve yards was as cool a penalty kick as you are likely to see all summer, rolled down the middle by the impressive Luka Modric.

The midfield playmaker, signed by Tottenham Hotspur for £16.5m subject to the successful granting of a work permit, was excellent in midfield. He controlled the tempo of the game and was always the most likely to open up the Austrian defence, with his great vision and terrific range of passing with both feet. He is sure to be a tremendous addition to the Premier League next season, and Spurs fans will be left drooling at the prospect of him at White Hart Lane.

It was a shame that the rest of the Croatian side weren’t up to Modric’s sky-high standard, otherwise this game could have been three or four nil. In reality, the Austrians grew in confidence as the game went on, and Bilic’s men were hanging on for their lives in the final fifteen minutes. The final whistle was greeted with a huge sigh of relief from the Croatian dug-out, although they’ll have to improve their game considerably if they wish to have any impact on this competition. Austria should be commended for a battling fight, although it was always clear that they didn’t possess enough star quality to really trouble their visitors in the final third.

Next up was Germany, the pre-tournament favourites, against Poland, their long-time bitter rivals. These two sides were remembered for delivering an interesting battle in the World Cup two years ago, when only a last-minute German winner seperated them, and the hope was that the Poles could suppress and contain the Germans once again. However, almost instantly, it was evident that the Poles were defensively inferior and, frankly, all over the place. Only a few minutes into the game, Miroslav Klose, the German striker who won the golden boot at the World Cup in 2006, was sent through the middle into a one-on-one situation, however his decision to pass the ball rather than finish himself was costly as his delivery was over-hit and the chance gone.

Poland should have took heed and learnt their lesson, however their backline continued to push way up the field, and in the 20th minute they were caught out again, with Klose delivering a simple tap-in for Polish-born Lukas Podolski to finish. The Germans were masterfully efficient and vastly superior, and could easily have stepped up their play a couple of gears if they had needed to. Podolski smashed in his second in the 72nd minute after some more suspect defensive play from the Poles, to confirm the victory that the favourites deserved, and while Poland did eventually cause some problems and force some action out of Jens Lehmann, the Germany goalkeeper, towards the end of the match, it all came as too little and too late.

The Germans and the Croats meet on Thursday in this group in what promises to be an enthralling clash, with both sides facing their first real tests of the competition thus far. Austria and Poland also meet on the same evening, in a game that neither side can afford to lose, although it is the former encounter that is sure to make all the headlines. A German success will further back their cause as the side to beat in this competition, and after yesterday’s performances few could see past the Kaisers extending their 100% record.

Tags: Austria, Austria 0-1 Croatia, Croatia, Euro 2008, Germany, Germany 2-0 Poland, Poland

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