Euro 2008: Germany 1-0 Austria, Poland 0-1 Croatia,

Jun 17

Ballack gets Germany into the Quarter finals

Michael Ballack booked Germany’s place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 after his thunderbolt free-kick earned a 1-0 victory in a hot-tempered clash against co-hosts Austria.

The Chelsea midfielder has been unhappy with his performances in the tournament so far but returned to the form of the last six months of the domestic season, lashing into the top corner just after the break at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium.

It sets up a last-eight clash against his new club boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, who will fulfil his Portugal duties before being unveiled at Stamford Bridge later this summer.

Croatia chucks out Poland from the Euro Championship

Ivan Klasnic’s second-half goal made it three wins out of three for Group B winners Croatia and in the process ensured an early tournament exit for Poland.

Klasnic struck in the 52nd minute with the only goal of the game to earn a much-changed Croatia a deserved victory and continue their impressive start to the tournament - which has also included triumphs over Austria and Germany and will next see them take on Turkey in the last eight.

For Poland the unlikely task of claiming a quarter-final spot proved mission impossible.

Needing a win and a favourable result from the Austria-Germany game to continue their adventure in their first European Championship finals, they could find no way through against an impressive Croatia.