B1: Austria 0 - 1 Croatia - 08/06/08

[DavidMc]

Austria 0-1 Croatia
UEFA EURO 2008
Group B
Sunday 8th June 2008
Vienna

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Modrić penalty undoes gutsy Austria

Austria went the same way as co-hosts Switzerland, opening their UEFA EURO 2008™ challenge with a narrow defeat as Luka Modrić's early penalty gave Croatia victory in Vienna.

Fastest penalty
The midfielder scored the only goal of the first Group B game in the fourth minute, firing in after Ivica Olić had been brought down by René Aufhauser – the fastest penalty converted in the history of the finals. The home side took time to find their feet after that setback, but mounted a stirring late charge with substitute Roman Kienast heading centimetres past the post seconds before the whistle.

Dreadful start
Coach Josef Hickersberger ended the goalkeeper conundrum by selecting Jürgen Macho ahead of Alex Manninger but, with three minutes and 35 seconds on the clock, the Austria No21 was forced to pick the ball out of the net following the worst of starts. Modrić showed outstanding control to keep an attack alive down the left and found Olić, who was blocked by Aufhauser as he attempted to go outside the midfielder. Modrić slotted in the spot-kick with aplomb, driving down the centre of goal with Macho diving to his right.

Set-piece threat
With an entire nation having worked themselves into a fever of anticipation, it was a blow that could have shattered Austrian morale. For Slaven Bilić's men, meanwhile, the immediate breakthrough settled Croatian nerves and there was an assured control about their football. The home team looked vulnerable every time Croatia forced a set-piece, Darijo Srna's delivery proving impeccable. It left Martin Stranzl and company overworked and little was happening at the other end to lift local spirits, although Sebastian Prödl shot wide from distance with Stipe Pletikosa watching it all the way. The Austria defender then rose highest to meet a corner but his effort flew beyond the far upright.

Austria regroup
After Mladen Petrić had rushed a volley, sending the ball off target, Austria finally began to assert themselves and proved they could get behind the Croatia back line. Martin Harnik gathered a ball played incisively inside the full-back and his cut-back prompted some hurried defensive measures from Josip Šimunić before a long diagonal pass found Joachim Standfest, who could not place his header on target.

Harnik outlet
Austria kicked off the second half where they had left off with Harnik, a focal point for their progress down the right, bursting beyond his marker and it was unfortunate Aufhauser could not connect with the hard-driven centre. From a similar position moments later, Harnik put too much power into his cross and the chance went begging. Perhaps inspired, Modrić went on a right-sided excursion of his own, and Stranzl had to call on all his experience to avert the danger. Austria then brought on the championship's oldest player, the 38-year-old Ivica Vastic, in a bid to rescue the situation.

Late flurry
With another substitute, Ümit Korkmaz, adding a vital spark, Austria threw everything at Croatia in a rousing finale, Harnik shooting too high when well-placed and Pletikosa almost fumbling a Vastic header. The Croatia goalkeeper then had to push aside Korkmaz's fierce drive but he was a spectator in added time as Kienast met a left-wing free-kick with a header that flew just wide as Austria's last chance went begging. Croatia continue their campaign against Germany in Klagenfurt on Thursday, when Austria will hope for better fortune against Poland in this stadium.

euro2008.uefa.com - Tournament - Matches

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No lifting the gloom over Vienna

There were mixed emotions in both camps after co-hosts Austria lost their Group B opener 1-0 to Croatia in Vienna. Although Croatia's victory was their first at a major championship in ten years, coach Slaven Bilić said his players were down in the mouth having gradually lost control of the game. Austria, despite an increasingly impressive display, were hardly smiling either after what coach Josef Hickersberger called "the worst possible start you could have" – Luka Modrić's fourth-minute penalty.

Josef Hickersberger, Austria coach
This was the worst possible start you could have in the opening match of a big tournament and the team are very depressed. During the first 30 minutes we did not play well. We were nervous and our combinations were not good. For the rest of the game, we played the way we should have been playing – we even dominated during the second half and were able to exert a lot of pressure on Croatia. We had good opportunities but unfortunately we weren't able to score so we finished empty-handed. The boys are disappointed because during the second half they felt they could cope with Croatia and even win the match. Now I will have to lift the team and we'll see what we can do against Poland. I enjoyed the atmosphere and it will be an advantage for the team that they've already played one game. We will have to take four points from Poland Germany to qualify.

Slaven Bilić, Croatia coach
I'm delighted that after so many years [ten] we have won a game at a major championship – this will certainly boost our confidence for the next two games. But when we got back to the dressing room I could see our players were not entirely satisfied so I turned on the cassette player and said they should sing because, after all, we had won the game. We were excellent for the first 35 minutes and the early lead contributed to that. It was disappointing we were unable to score a second to finish the game off. Then Austria started to put pressure on us, more so in the second half, and we dropped too deep, into our own penalty area, too soon. Obviously some of our players were overwhelmed by playing at such a big tournament but we have started in the best possible way. Our creative players were good but they must be better than good if we are to win matches easily.

euro2008.uefa.com - Tournament - Matches

[Vargas_4]

Really impressed by Austria. They put in a lot of effort but weren't unable to score a goal. I felt it was like the Swiss game vs the Czechs.

It's worth to point out that Croatia pressured them right from the start and Austria seemed a bit shaky. It was a penalty. So no arguement there.

But later on i saw how Austria began to squeeze and start playing much better. And that's how it stayed. Austria trying to attack, trying to come up with ideas, keeping the ball really well... But Croatia closed themselves up very well.

Austrias's No.20 impressed me. He made a lot of good runs and provided a lot of good passes. But oh well.

They at least deserved to equalize.

[Dragoen]

Originally Posted by Vargas_4

Really impressed by Austria. They put in a lot of effort but weren't unable to score a goal. I felt it was like the Swiss game vs the Czechs.

It's worth to point out that Croatia pressured them right from the start and Austria seemed a bit shaky. It was a penalty. So no arguement there.

But later on i saw how Austria began to squeeze and start playing much better. And that's how it stayed. Austria trying to attack, trying to come up with ideas, keeping the ball really well... But Croatia closed themselves up very well.

Austrias's No.20 impressed me. He made a lot of good runs and provided a lot of good passes. But oh well.

They at least deserved to equalize.

No.20 was Harnik from Bremen.
and yes he was great yesterday. I really hope he won't be sold in the summer. He will get more chances in our first team next season. I am sure of that.

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Stipe Pletikosa (Croatia) is the official Man of the Match.

euro2008.uefa.com - Fanzone

[kyan]

Well that's a surprise to me.

I know nobody really excelled but his handling looked very suspect, flapped at the ball a couple of times dangerously and almost fumbled a straight forward long-shot but managed to recover.

United have been linked with him but judging on his performance I personally wouldn't be overly comfortable with him between the sticks.

I probably would have gone with Olic for MOTM, won the penalty and ran his arse off.

[__-SNAKE-__]

I agree with Kyan on the MOTM it should have been Olic.