Croatia stun Germany, Austria draw with Poland
Croatia secured a place in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals on Thursday with a shock defeat of Germany, while co-host Austria's draw with Poland kept their hopes alive.
Playing in the Austrian city of Klagenfurt, Croatia beat Germany – the tournament favourites – by a score of 2-1.
Croatia, which now head Group B, took the lead in the 24th minute with a goal by Darijo Srna. Ivica Olic took the score to 2-0 in the 63rd minute.
Lukas Podolski scored Germany’s only goal of the game – his third of the tournament – in the 79th minute.
Germany were reduced to ten men in injury time when Bastian Schweinsteiger was given the tournament’s first red card for pushing Croatian substitute Jerko Leko to the ground.
In Thursday’s other match, played in Vienna, Roger Guerreiro scored for Poland in the first half, but a penalty by Ivica Vastic three minutes into extra time secured a 1-1 draw for Switzerland’s co-host Austria.
In Group B, Austria and Poland now have one point each, Germany have three and Croatia six.
On Monday, Germany play Austria and Croatia meet Poland.
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