Euro 2008: Matchday Six (Group B)

Get ready for another classic match-up.

If yesterday's exciting match-up between 1-0 teams Portugal and the Czech Republic is any indication then today's Germany-Croatia match-up is going to be a can't-miss encounter. Two of the tournament's best midfields square off with the winner (if their is one) not only in good shape to win Group B, but also set up a potential quarterfinal match-up against Turkey or the Czech Republic rather than Portugal.

Germany and Croatia will meet in today's first match (11:50 a.m., ESPN2), with Austria taking on Poland (2:30pm, ESPN2) for a chance to keep alive their chances of reaching the quarters.

I won't be able to do a running commentary today but will be checking in periodically to offer up updates when I can. If you will be watching today's Group B games, and will be online, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some running commentary in the comments section below.

Enjoy the matches.

Comments

[Brant]

You wonder if the Croatians look at the Germans and think
(a) "Remember '92, when Denmark upset them"
or
(b) "Holy #%$@, we're about to get Cherundolo'ed"

The Germans are just playing like a machine, and you wonder if even the weather is going to bother them....

[Brant]

15 minutes gone, and the Croatians seem content to make nuisances of themselves and gum up the Germans, more than they they are actually making their own effort. Aside from one good corner kick, they've been pretty useless.
They're sort of like the kick in 6th grade that sits in the back of the class and makes smart-ass remarks just to disrupt everyone, without bothering to actually answer any of the teacher's questions.

[Ives]

24th minute- GOAL CROATIA Dario Srna latches on to a great cross and volleys one from six yards out!!

[ManicMessiah]

22nd minute- Srna puts home a beautiful cross to put Croatia up 1-0. Right up until he hit the ball with his foot, it looked like another bit of lackadasical play from the side. At no point during that play did I think they were threatening.

We'll see how Germany responds.

[Brant]

Stunner! The Croats score first!

Tablecloths 1 - 0 Machine

Long cross over the 6-yard box from left side, and Croatian winger sneaks in arround the backside defender and pokes it past a diving Lehmann.

[Brant]

Germany had a goal called back on offsides a few minutes before, but that was just comical Newcastle-quality defending from Jansen.

[Igor]

The machine needs some new batteries.

[ManicMessiah]

It was the 24th, my bad about the time. The Germans waste a free kick just outside of the area near the left part of the goal line, and the subsequent possesion they got.

[ManicMessiah]

Kranjcar has the ball come to him from a perfect header in the penalty area, and he blasts it well over the bar.

[Brant]

Yeah, Das Machine is getting covered by the Tablecloths... The annoying kid in the back of the room has finally bugged the kid in front of him, who totally lost his composure.

[ManicMessiah]

Germany with a free kick in a good position. Ballack and Frings over it.

Ballack takes it, hit it at the keeper, who parried it away. Croatia couldn't quite clear it, and Germany had a couple of hack to try and put it into the net, but Croatia finally got it out.

[Brant]

Ballack got kinda ballsy launching that artillery-range shot... too bad his FO didn't adjust firee properly.

[ManicMessiah]

To run with the machine analogy, Germany just seem slightly off. It looks like they need a slight adjustment rather than a total overhaul.

[ManicMessiah]

40th minute- Germany with a corner kick. Law of averages says that eventually one of these has to go in for them.

1st attempt stopped by the referee's whistle. After a 2nd whistle, a corner was finally taken. Metzelder got a head on it, but put it over the bar.

[Igor]

Darn, no one got my Kobe Bryant-Sasha Vujacic reference. Oh well.

[Pat the Red Bulls Fan]

I find it odd that the German team fields foreigners. Can't Germany produce their own? I mean, they're Germany. Especially Poles, how do you play for Germany?

Good game so far, with plenty of Ballack whinging and attacking for the sides.

[Brant]

Over at The Guardian, they're discussing the idea that in addition to a qualifying tournament for the teams, they should hold one for the TV commentators, too. Make the talking heads earn their way into the game, just like the players.

Some days, that idea sounds better and better.

[ManicMessiah]

Jansen completely lost his man coming in from midfield, leading to a shot hit point blank at Lehman in the penalty area. Comedic defending from the Germans. The subsequent Croation corner came to nothing.

[Igor]

To be fair, Podolski and Klose have lived in Germany most of their lives. It's not like they're naturalized just to play soccer cough-Eduardo da Silva-cough.

[Brant]

Igor - sorry... I don't watch the rigged sports. Gimme pro wrestling for unpredicatblility any day! :-D

[ManicMessiah]

Gomez brushes against the Keeper, who lost the ball letting Klose slot it in, but the referee blew a foul to negate it. It's a call the keeper is always going to get, but it was really weak.

[Brant]

First half comments -
I'm glad the Tablecloths started attacking and making the Germans work for it. However, you get the feeling it's just a matter of time before the Germans score a goal the referee lets stand.
Jansen is awful today and probably needs to hit the showers. Of course, the Magpies are probably already talking to his agent about a move to Tyneside.
I've got a 1pm meeting (ugh!) and won't get to see 2d half, so I'll catch up with y'all later.

[HomeyBoehme]

Germany did not look good in the first half.

[ManicMessiah]

Odonkor comes on in place of Jansen, who did not have a good first half, even in comparison with the rest of his team.

Odonkor made an impact coming forward early in the half, and is doing so again. He already seems to be an improvement.

[ManicMessiah]

52nd minute- Modric take a long distance shot that Lehman gets to easily, but almost muffs it for a corner.

[ManicMessiah]

Croatia has been really relaxed on the ball, and Germany haven't exactly looked all that bothered in their attempts to win it back. When they do get the ball, they've looked a bit harried and rushed on the ball.

It's amazing how much better the Croation attack has seemed. Germany needs to make some kind of change.

[ManicMessiah]

62nd minute- A terrible mistake by Lehman lets Olic slot in a goal. 2-0 Croatia.

[ManicMessiah]

It needs to be said that Lehman's back four gave him no help, giving away the ball badly which lead to the Croation possesion on that goal, where the German defense once again gave Croatia too much time.

[HomeyBoehme]

Germany needs to get Gomez off the field. He is not playing well at all today.

[ManicMessiah]

66th minute- Gomez is off for Schweinsteiger.

[Gene]

As I watch this German team losing 0:2 to Croatia, I wonder whether the Germany's 1st 2 matches call for re-assessment of Klinsmann's coaching effort in the last World Cup. This is the same team Klinsmann had, yet it is stagnant, unimaginative, and uninspired. Perhaps Klinsmann did a much better job with the Germans than he got credit for.

[ManicMessiah]

66th minute- Germany switch up the forumla, giving the ball away cheaply in the midfield, which exentually leads to a Croatia free kick in a good position.

[HomeyBoehme]

German Coach to HomeyBoehme: Your wish is my command.

[ManicMessiah]

69th minute- The Germans actually looked lively for a moment, but Klose hit a totally weak shot from the top of the box.

[ManicMessiah]

Of course, Croatia came right back down the pitch and earned a corner. Lehman punched that out for another corner, which was put in a dangerous position, not cleared properly by Germany, but Croatia did them a favor by shooting well wide.

[Chris]

Slightly off topic: Is there a site where you can watch match highlights? FIFA used to post them for WC, but UEFA doesn't seem to be posting highlights anywhere. Am I just being a dope and not seeing them?
Thanks.

[HomeyBoehme]

@Gene - that team was also 2 years younger. Germany look old today.

[ManicMessiah]

72nd minute- Olic, the 2nd goal scorer for Croatia, makes way for Mladen Petric.

Schweinsteiger put a dangerous ball in the area, which nearly went in on it's own.

[Gene]

Yes, it was 2 years younger. But these are still very young guys, even by football standard. Even Klose is only 30.

As I type this, it is 2:1.

[ManicMessiah]

79th minute- Podolski fires home a shot from the center of the penalty area. Ballack headed the ball, which got knocked down by a Croation defender right to Podolski, who finished with conviction.

All of a sudden Germany, who has been thoroughly outplayed, is within striking distance from tying the game.

[ManicMessiah]

82nd minute- Lehman makes a mess of another shot, combined with poor clearance by the defense almost led to a scoring opportunity for Croatia.

I find it hard to believe that there isn't anothe keeper in the whole of Germany better than Jens Lehman right now.

[Justin O]

Pat the Red Bulls Fan,

Do you seriously find it odd that Germany doesn't exclude some German citizens from national team consideration because they don't have sufficiently ethnically pure German blood? Given history, wouldn't it be rather objectionable if they did?

[HomeyBoehme]

@Gene - Yeah, after looking at their ages, most of them aren't 30+ (unlike Italy). Well, regardless they look old they way Croatia are running all around and over them.

[Gene]

Ballack is having a shocking bad game. He cannot complete a 1-2 to save his life.

I do not see a comeback.

[ManicMessiah]

Just 3 minutes of extra time for Germany to fins an equalizer.

91st minute- Croatia work a give and go, and Lahm puts it out for Germany. Close to an own goal.

Schweinsteiger gets a red card retaliating against a Croation player. Up until that, he was probably their best player. It was an ugly challenge, but Schweinsteiger probably deserved a red.

Lehman got a yellow for dissent.

[HomeyBoehme]

Wow...HANDBAG ALERT! Touchy end to the game there.

[ManicMessiah]

Game over, 2-1 Croatia is the final, which flatters Germany quite a bit. Croatia had the better posession, the better chances. Schweinsteiger, one of the few Germans who played well, will miss the next match with a red card. Ballack and Klose are two players in particular who stood out as having bad games, as well as Lehman, though you could include just about anyone in a German jersey. The best thing going for Germany at this point? They play Austria in their final match.

[Gene]

Someone will have to explain to me why Schweinsteiger isn't starting. He came on as a sub in both games and looked the best player out there, with the exception of Podolsky.

By the way, the red was a bit harsh.

[DCM]

Germany did not look at all. The better team today won the 3 points they deserved.

As pointed out in an earlier posting, Germany '08 looks drastically different than the Germany '06.

It will be interesting to see if Germany finds their game before the Quarter Finals.

[DCM]

It is amazing in 2 games that Schweinsteiger has not started yet earned a Yellow in Game 1 & a Straight Red in Game 2. Very un-German like in the card accumulation.

[Brant]

Pleasantly surprised to come back from my meeting and see that Croatia won. Certainly the game was more exciting than discussing SQL Reporting Services for an hour.

I really, really want to like the Fighting Tablecloths, but I have a hard time cheering for a team coached by the perpetrator of the biggest BS dive in soccer history (Bilic in the '98 WC semis v France). Maybe I'll come around. Maybe not.

[William the Terror]

Another one of the "big boys" bites the dust. Germany should beat Austria, but will now probably have to settle for second in Group. I think that would result in a Quarterfinal matchup with Spain. This, coupled with the fact that either ITaly or France may have to play Portugal in the quarters means that we could have a couple of surprise teams in the semis. Gotta love tournaments like this. Hup, Holland!!!!

[Simona]

What a delightful surprise Croatia was today! I was cheering like crazy for them to score and they were on fire! God I don't know what happened to Germany --too frustrated, pissed off at the ref --but that was so intense. Croatia fought for it and I'm really proud of them today. Too bad on loosing his temper because Bastian Schweinsteiger brought the German team to life on the second half and they actually looked they were going to fight back. I laughed so hard at Ballack and I was waiting for him to start fighting with the ref.

[William the Terror]

Sorry, got the brackets wrong. It could be Germany v. Portugal and Spain v. Italy/France in the Quarters. Either way, those are some impressive early knockout stage match-ups.

[ManicMessiah]

9th minute- a pretty even game so far. Foul against Poland, and I'm not sure why the referee did not look for an advantage before blowing the whistle.

[ManicMessiah]

10th minute- Good free kick, and the keeper did much better than Lehman did all of the last match, safely smothering the ball.

[ManicMessiah]

10th minute- Austria nearly scores on the counter, Harnik with a 1 on 1 with the keeper but he pushes it wide right of goal.

Boruc knocks away the following corner for another corner.

14th minute- Harnik with another golden opportunity alone close to goal, but he squanders it.

[ManicMessiah]

16th minute- Austria squanders another counterattack opportunity, 1 on 1 with the keeper. This time, it was Boruc with a good save rather than a bad shot.

Poland looked like they could get a chance on a counter after that, but nothing really came of it.

Austria has looked much better than I thought they would.

[ManicMessiah]

espn just gave this tidbit: Austria hasn't won a match at a major competition since the 1990 World Cup. The last team they beat? The United States.

[ManicMessiah]

22nd minute- Poland's high defensive line and a slight misplay by the left back led to another great chance for Austria, only to be stopped by Boruc again. The Polish keeper has made several great saves already in this match.

[ManicMessiah]

26th minute- Poland with a corner, though nothing came from it.

Austria on the counterattack, though it was slowed down, and Poland knocked the ball out for a throw. Better from the Polish defense.

[ManicMessiah]

30th minute- Poland scores! Saganowski took a cross down on the right side of the Austrian box, sends a ball across the face of goal, where Guerreiro slots it home very simply.

It was completely against the run of play, but Poland find themselves up 1-0.

[ManicMessiah]

35th minute- A blunder from an Austrian defender leaves Austria with a chance to send a ball across the penalty area, but nothing comes to it. This Poland defense seems very slow, and if it keeps playing like this Austria will have several chances to equalize over the rest of the match.

[ManicMessiah]

That's a blunder from a Polish defender.

[ManicMessiah]

38th minute- Kryznowek with a long ditance shot that forces the Austrian keeper into a save.

[ManicMessiah]

41st minute- Poland's attack seems to have woken up after the goal.

[ManicMessiah]

44th minute- Austria earns a free kick, but it's stopped by the 1st defender, but Poland gets a dubious decision go against them, giving Austria another free kick, almost a corner, on the right side.

Austria played it on the ground, but a foul call against Austria takes the danger out of it.

[ManicMessiah]

47th minute- Poland give away another silly foul. Free kick for austria near goal. It will be the last play of the half.

A great delivery on the free kick, and Pogatetz comes very close to putting it into the back of an empty net, though it was just a bit too tall for him.

At the half, it is 1-0 to Poland. Austria has had the lion's share of the chances, but Poland has the goal. The Polish defense has looked better for the latter stages of the half, but it has conceded enough dangerous fouls, and is still giving enough space behind it where Austria will have chances in the 2nd half.

[ManicMessiah]

Can't believe I didn't see it at the time, but Guerreiro looks to be offsides on that goal.

[ManicMessiah]

Unfortunately, I won't be able to watch the rest of the match, so for those of you who can, enjoy.

[EDB]

watched the first half on my phone.. wow, Austria blew so many chances..

[HomeyBoehme]

Wow...both cohosts dropping out after the first 2 games. Too bad...or good actually if you enjoy watching quality football.

[Brant]

Both co-hosts played remarkably good first games, and were it not for the woodwork, the Swiss might've scored 2-3 goals...
The Austrians look over their heads, but have tried like hell to play well.

Interestingly tho, Austria is NOT out of it. I think they might still have a chance depending on what happens with Poland/Croatia.

Especially if they pull a tie out of their collective tookus here.

[Gene]

Wow, that was a horseshit of a call by Howard Webb on several fronts.

First, he let Austria re-take the free kick after an Austrian player deliberately pushed a Polish defender. Second, he choses to call a shirt pull in the box even those things exactly like these were not called throughout the game. The first game involving Austria and Croatia routinely involved similar wrestling matches.

The only consolation to Austria is that they were hit by a dodge penalty call in the game against Croatia. But still, come on.

[HomeyBoehme]

OMG!!!! Howard Webb!?!? Unbelievable call. Sepp Blatter requested that call, I guarantee it.

[Brant]

Austria are still alive!

If they beat Germany (BIG 'if') and Poles tie or lose, then Oestereich marches into the semis. It'll be a nervy afternoon this weekend.

[Gene]

Oh, yeah, Polish goal was offside, too. I missed the 1st half, so I just saw the replay. Well, he evened out the mistakes, then:)

[Brant]

One comment I saw elsewhere about Webb noted that it was good to see the English having a dismal performance in the Euros despite their team not even qualifying - offside goal allowed, flaky penalty awarded at the end, retaken free kick, and inconsistent calls throughout.

[HomeyBoehme]

I have to post again to state what a shocking call that was by Webb. Shocking, horrible call. Maybe he thought if he gave Austria a goal, he could get a couple years of free beer?

[eric]

lol, HB!

Terrible game, both goals off bad calls (or lack thereof)

I will not be sorry to have both of these teams out of the tourney, even with the host factor going for Austria. Even if someone does survive, the most dramatic part will be the German implosion.

That put Croatia thru, right?

[Gene]

I wonder if Vastic is going to share with Webb some of that free beer:)

[Scott]

I love all the tools who talked about how great Germany were looking, and how Croatia had no chance. This was not surprising. The German defense is lacking to say the least, and the strikers are not that effective. All it takes is an off game from Ballack or Frings and the team is useless. As for Croatia, Luka Modric is hands down the most complete player in the tournament. Niko Kranjcar and Danijel Pranjic aren't bad either. Not to mention that the Croats can play defense as opposed to the Dutch and the Spanish.