B3: Austria 0 - 1 Germany - 16/06/08

[RunX]

We Will Back To Our Best Form .. I'm Sure !
For The Line Up Today ....
Lehmann
Fredrich Mertsaker Metzelder Lahm
Fritz Frings Ballack Hitzelsperger
Klose & Podolski

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Originally Posted by z187

yeah but germany is germany, they can never be underestimated. 1 bad game against croatia (a good team) doesnt mean they can be written off.

i wouldnt be surprised at all if germany bounces back to win the cup. and many other ppl wouldnt be either

Agreed mate. Let 'em write us down - that's what we need.

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Tense Mood In German Camp, Admits Ballack

Michael Ballack has admitted that the mood in the German camp ahead of tomorrow night's crunch match against Austria is anything other than relaxed.

The heat is really on pre-tournament favourites after their loss to Croatia. A loss to regional rivals and comparitive football dwarfs Austria is unthinkable, but the fear of a humiliating failure is exactly what makes this such a high pressure encounter.

“Everybody is a bit tense after the Croatia match,” admitted Ballack. “That is normal. Football is not always harmonious. The voices in the team have got louder and people have been giving their opinion, but it is all constructive. It’s normal to be able to give your opinion loud and clear.

"I know I can play better and should play better," the Chelsea man added. "Overall we haven't played to our full potential yet."

Ballack led clear-the-air talks with the squad following the defeat to Croatia when they were defeated more soundly than the 2-1 scoreline suggested.

“It was not a crisis meeting," he insisted. "It was a football meeting, to clear the air. We discussed our performance and our attitude. The details will remain between us. It had nothing to do with the coach. We can have such a talk without the coach being around. What is important is that it is positive and aimed at the success of the side and, most important of all, that a reaction comes from it.”

“The situation is that we have to win,” he added, “otherwise everything we have done over the past four years will be questioned. We know that.”

“It will be tough, with a full stadium and the home fans getting behind their team,” Ballack said. “But we knew this would be the case before the tournament began. It would have been nice to be sitting here already qualified for the knockout stage, but that is not the case and now we need to put our foot down.”

Goal.com - Euro 2008 - Germany - Tense Mood In German Camp, Admits Ballack

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Rolfes Eyes Austria Challenge

Germany midfielder Simon Rolfes is hoping to get the nod as coach Joachim Loew ponders possible changes ahead of their crucial EURO 2008 clash with Austria…

The three-time European champions find themselves in the unlikely position of having to defeat their co-hosts tonight to be certain of progressing to the quarterfinals.

Heavily backed as favourites prior to the tournament, the Germans sit second in Group B after losing 2-1 against table-toppers Croatia, who will face Poland in Klagenfurt.

Slaven Bilic is expected to field a weakened team against the Poles, giving them the opportunity to steal an unlikely spot in the knockout stages, but Germany only need victory against the lowest-ranked team in the tournament to quash that possibility.

"Our objective has always been to become European champions," said the 26-year-old, "which is why, even though this is a knockout game, it's good for us to have this opportunity to meet the challenge.

"I think it will make the team even closer and stronger. We are all looking forward to the match. We are a little tense but we have always shown that when the going gets tough, we manage to get going."

Positive

The German squad has been gripped by a collective tension following the Croatia defeat, leading the players and staff to engage in an open forum to clear the air while maintaining their focus on the Austria clash.

Rolfes believes the talks have brought the squad closer together while producing a wealth of interesting ideas.

"Everybody was encouraged to pitch in with their opinion in the hope that the discussions would have a positive effect," explained the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder.

"We have already improved and there are a number of improvements we can still make. But I don't think there are any major problems in the team because of the defeat."

Focus

Loew could make a few significant changes to his starting XI for the clash in Vienna, and Rolfes’ appearance at the pre-match press conference suggested he could replace Torsten Frings in midfield.

But the former Alemannia Aachen man claimed to know nothing about the potential line-up, and insisted he is concentrating solely on training hard and impressing the coach.

"I was impressed to see, over the last few weeks, how we were being treated as favourites in the papers and on television," he said.

"But I know how quickly football changes from one day to the next. The important thing is to focus on your own game."

Goal.com - Euro 2008 - Rolfes Eyes Austria Challenge

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Austria Skipper: We Are Good Enough

Austria captain Andreas Ivanschitz is all too aware that his team stand in front of a unique chance to write Austrian football folklore in that they could qualify for the next round of the tournament at the expense of bitter rivals Germany.

Austria, who are ranked 92nd in the Fifa World Rankings, below the likes of Qatar, Bahrain and Zimbabwe, have surprised many onlookers with their performances so far during Euro 2008, going down to an unfortunate 1-0 defeat against Croatia before drawing 1-1 with Poland. Now, a win in Vienna tomorrow night would see them become heroes.

"It was important for us to draw against Poland as it gives us the opportunity to make it through to the quarter-finals," said Ivanschitz, who currently plies his trade for Panathinaikos.

"It makes it all the more interesting and for both sides it is a key match."

"I'll see how well I am going to sleep tonight," he added. "Of course the nerves have already been there for some days. We have a unique opportunity in such a big tournament to beat Germany.

"It is not going to be easy, we are the outsiders, but we have given evidence that we are good enough to play against good teams and we now have to confirm that the team is good and in a good shape."

Goal.com - Euro 2008 - Austria Skipper: We Are Good Enough

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Germany Were Better In 2006 - Hickersberger


Austria coach Josef Hickersberger is confident his side might be able to snatch a surprise victory and qualify for the Euro 2008 quarterfinals ahead of Germany...

Austria face Germany this evening with an outside chance of qualifying - but only with victory over their bitter rivals.

Hickersberger removed the fear factor for underdogs Austria, saying, "We are not wetting our pants because we are playing Germany, we know they have problems and we know some are injured and they are not playing that well.

"They are not as good as they were in 2006 and we have home advantage, we think we have a good chance."

It is 30 years on since a memorable Austria win over Germany in the 1978 World Cup in Cordoba, but Hickersberger, despite playing in that match, was keen to highlight a more recent triumph.

"Too much has been said about Cordoba," he insisted. "For me, history is repeating itself. In 1989, we played the German Democratic Republic in Vienna in a decisive qualifier for the 1990 World Cup and won [3-0]. The names are different now, but we're looking forward to the match.

"We're in excellent shape. We're better than we were in February and we have a decent chance. This is the biggest match of my life and it will be the biggest match of all time if we win."

Hickersberger's optimism grew still when considering momentum. Austria snatched a last-minute fortuitous equaliser from the penalty spot - their first goal of the tournament - against Poland in their last game, while Germany were thoroughly outplayed by Croatia.

"Germany weren't that good against Croatia and they have problems," noted the coach.

"One or two players are injured, they're not playing that well and we have home advantage.

"I'd put our chances at 40 per cent – people might think I'm pessimistic but that's quite good. The important thing is we have a chance and if you'd told me that a year ago I'd have been more than grateful."

Andreas Ivanschitz, who is captain in the absence of the suspended Sebastian Prodl. is relishing the unique opportunity ahead for his side, one he believes they are capable of taking. "This match is special, it is a unique opportunity for us in such a big tournament.

"We are the outsiders but we have shown we are good enough to play against good teams."

Goal.com - Euro 2008 - Germany Were Better In 2006 - Hickersberger

[__-SNAKE-__]

Playing Fritz as RB is a good choice, also selecting Borowski would be interesting.

[Dragoen]

I think in this match Fritz should play RB because he is more offensive and we need to score goals. We should rest Friedrich until the Portugal game because he is defensive stronger and we need his defensive strength against Portugal.

[ReMad]

Match Preview
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[Beninato]

Starting Podolski was a solid move. Gomez has been disastrous for Germany thus far.

[__-SNAKE-__]

He wasnt the only 1.

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Confirmed official starting line-up:

Germany:

11 Klose - 9 Gomez
20 Podolski - 13 Ballack (C) - 8 Frings - 4 Fritz
16 Lahm - 21 Metzelder - 17 Mertesacker - 3 Friedrich
1 Lehmann

euro2008.uefa.com - Tournament - Matches

Looks like Low hasn't had options for the left wing, and that is why Podolski isn't starting as a striker today. Gomez starting again, he better do good.

More strength in defence now with Friedrich.

Subs will be Hitzlsperger, and Borowski.

[Dellas]

I'm not cheering anyone in particular in this match but just watch out for dodgy decisions in Austrias favour. Of course their shouldn't be but normally a host goes through and they might happen to win this one. With all the dodgy calls that have gone on their might be a few more against Germany. Just my 2 cents.

[Dellas]

Game has started and Gomez just missed an open goal after some good play by Klose.

[ReMad]

Gomez Misses a Chance Infront of an Open Goal .4
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[ReMad]

National Anthems
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Aufhauser Shot Saved By Lehmann .20
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Podolski Shot Saved By Macho .22
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[ReMad]

Austrian & German Coaches Sent Off .40
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