Euro 2008 - Croatia scrape to win over Austria

Eurosport - Mon, 09 Jun 11:21:00 2008

An early penalty from Luka Modric gave Croatia an unconvincing 1-0 European Championships Group B opening win over a plucky Austria side at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna.

FOOTBALL 2008 Euro 2008 Austria-Croatia Celebrating - 0

Rene Aufhauser's clumsy tackle felled Ivica Olic in the third minute, and new Tottenham midfielder Modric calmly slotted the ball past Juergen Macho to score the quickest penalty ever in European Championships history.

Austria can take heart despite the defeat, as they outplayed an ordinary Croatia side - the game came in the light of 10,000 of their own fans signing a petition calling for their withdrawal from the tournament to avoid humiliation at the hands of their "superiors".

For the first half an hour Croatia looked the far more technically gifted side.

But Croatia missed injured Arsenal forward Eduardo, his composure in front of goal absent along with his presence on the pitch.

Olic and strike-partner Mladen Petric both went close but were denied by poor finishing with the head and left foot respectively.

But, playmaker Andreas Ivanschitz aside, Austria are a big, powerful outfit and their superior strength showed as the match went on.

Sebastian Proedl and Aufhauser both should have levelled before half-time but sent free headers wide as Austria piled the pressure on their guests, particularly from set-pieces.

Austria were sas wasteful in front of goal as Croatia, and Proedl missed with another free header a few minutes before the break.

The second half continued in a similar vein, as Austria played a direct game to try and get back into the match.

Slaven Bilic's men were, however, more effective on the counter attack, with Petric and Olic both going close and the latter drawing a cynical foul from Proedl that could have seen him sent off but only resulted in a yellow.

Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz was lucky to stay on the pitch too, booked for his protests at the penalty and then somehow getting away without a second yellow card when he manhandled and then hacked at Olic just outside the Austria penalty area.

There were some nervy moments for Stipe Pletikosa in the Croatia goal and, as the match reached its conclusion, Austria were attacking in waves and again could have drawn level through veteran, Croatian-born substitute Ivica Vastic.

Subs Korkmaz Ozcan and Roman Kienast also caused the Croats problems, the former which his tricky dribbling and the latter with his direct forward play.

The team that beat England twice in qualifying were hanging on by the end, with Pletikosa's handling sometimes unconventional but ultimately effective as he kept Vastic, Kienast and Korkmaz from levelling for Austria.

And, in the final seconds of injury-time, Kienast shaved the upright with a superbly improvised flicked header from just inside the box for Austria's final chance to get something from the game.

But Croatia held on for the win as the second of the co-hosts - derided as whipping-boys before the tournament started - lost their opening game despite a good performance.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 18 of 18

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  1. You need to know that Croatia played against co-host nation Austria and referee was unfair because he was on Austrian side. I don't understand why Austrians are feeling so hurt by the referring, penalty for Croatia was right choice but the only unfortunately, Why the referee did not show red card to Emanuele Pogatetz, his reaction was against all regulations, I read here that Austrian side was victimized by the referee, that is rubbish, there is mentioned some penalty for Austria, Knežević didn't played with hand and that you could see on replay. On replay can clearly see that Knežević played with his shoulder, and one thing Croatia played just how much it was needed for first three points, i hope not only one. We need to remember that Croatia in 1996. at Euro in England first game against Turkey was similar to this match, Croatia has won by 1-0, and what happened then, Croatia- Denmark 3-0.Croatia always played better against strongest teams then against weakest teams. And I have feeling that Croatia will beat Germany by 2-1, and scorers will be Klose for Germany, and Kranjčar and Rakitić for Croatia. PROUD TO BE A CROAT!!!!!!!

    Samo je jedno u mom životu vrijedno da pustim suzu s oka jer tebe volim ja , život mi dala baš kao da je znala da nikad neće nestat sa mojih usana(HRVATSKA) s ponosom narodu svom ljubi grb na dresu tom
    Na Jadranu i Savi na Dunavu i Dravi nek se slavi cijeli dan i noć!

    From danijelmajer, on Tue 10 Jun 11:05PM

  2. WELL SAID, kasiopeja!!!

    From xence, on Mon 9 Jun 6:19PM

  3. PS: goldpibe, thank you ;)

    From kasiopeja251, on Mon 9 Jun 5:35PM

  4. gonaus, did you watch the game or did you hear about the game? because it was obvious that the referee was playing for the austria side. the penalty was a good decision, but it was the only one on the game! Did you see how Olic was again kicked? And there should have been a second yellow card for that guy, but noooo... Because Austria wolud lose their chance of winning, which was not in the interest of the referee! I am a Croat and I am proud of that, but I am also realistic, I know that those guys know and have to do better than what they did, but if we speak of the judge, you are not being fair.

    From kasiopeja251, on Mon 9 Jun 5:34PM

  5. Poslije kiše dolazi sunce. Best wishes to the team who kicked the Brits out of the tournament and lost their best striker Eduardo. From an Italian

    From goldpibe, on Mon 9 Jun 3:04PM

  6. why isn't there anyone to stop this foolish "I'm a sex woman" "commentary"?!

    From xence, on Mon 9 Jun 11:05AM

  7. My predictions for this game were Croatia 4 - o Austria

    From camillerijacob11, on Mon 9 Jun 11:01AM

  8. whats with all the "am a sexy blah! blah! blah! lookintg for a blah! blah! blah!" um heloooooooooo this is a soccer site, r u really that ignorant AND desperate that you cant find such sites for that nonsense THIS IS EUROSPORT by the way if you're looking for someone, my advice is start from your neighbourhood the internet is not the best place... unless you're really desperate (like the above). So please! next time i open eurosport i wanna see comments about the soccer issue at hand. AND BY THE WAY I SAY THE REFEREE WASN'T FAIR.

    From cybacj, on Mon 9 Jun 9:52AM

  9. yido yido yido

    From reece_et, on Mon 9 Jun 4:00AM

  10. 8 minute video from the game on:

    http://nogometnigasterbajteri.blogspot.com

    with croatian commentary

    From bh_prodaja, on Mon 9 Jun 1:13AM

  11. The referee was unfair.
    First he gave the penalty kick to Croatia which wasn't necessary. The decision was a mistake, a yellow card would be the right decision.
    Then when Roman Kienast's T-Shirt was grabbed on the second half, the referee didn't give any penalty kick.
    It was clear that there should be penalty kick on the second half: 84' when Dario Knezevic touched the ball by hand, then 93' when Roman Kienast's T-Shirt was grabbed during his trying to scoring from a header.
    Why can't they build a camera on every player's t-shirt that we can see clearly every angle of the game?

    From gonaus, on Mon 9 Jun 1:01AM

  12. crotians have shown the stuff they are made of, uefa has chosen the best officals for this years tournament, they should give the fans their best and should'nt make the game unintrestd.

    From kengabson, on Mon 9 Jun 12:30AM

  13. YID ARMY!!!

    From joseph_brownett, on Sun 8 Jun 11:03PM

  14. plus, the referee was evidently protecting austria whenever he could, croats were evidently frustared after he never gave a yellow card to the guy who kicked olic. the referee should be banned from UEFA to participate on chamionships!

    From xence, on Sun 8 Jun 9:31PM

  15. austria was definetely a suprise, but croatia shouldn't be underestimated - they have proven before (remember '98?) to play better as the championship progresses. I believe they will pull themselves together if they pass the group, and then show their potential. Eduardo's missing was felt, but remember that it wasn't him who scored against england.

    From xence, on Sun 8 Jun 9:28PM

  16. Hamilton take care here goes Olic!

    Germany will be loser against Croatia I give my poor salary on that

    From kompasno1, on Sun 8 Jun 8:52PM

  17. Dont underestimate Austria. their homa advantage and a friendly warm up win against Malta enhanced their play. Modric will be the next Cruijff.

    From camillerijacob11, on Sun 8 Jun 7:49PM

  18. referee was very bad,he was on austria's side,all his decidion was against Croatia.Pletikosa was excelent.I think that is deserved win.

    From tijana246, on Sun 8 Jun 7:17PM
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