match 1:
Klagenfurt - Wörthersee - Austria
POLAND 0 - 1 CROATIA
Klasnic 53
Entertainment value: 3 / 5
match 2:
Ernst Happel - Vienna - Austria
AUSTRIA 0 - 1 GERMANY
Ballack 49
EV: 3 / 5
Poland needed to win big against Croatia with at least a 2-0 victory but eventually succumbed to a single Croatioan goal who is the first team among the 4 group leaders to achieve perfect 9 for 9. Germany secured 2nd spot for a q-final place with Portugal after Ballack struck a screamer of a free-kick to send the hosts home - well they were home already.
Poland were simply outclassed by a team on form. They had to win at least 2-0 but even a slender victory will have been too much to ask for. Despite that, they can learn from this adventure and propel them to greater heights for the future. As it stands in the present moment, the team is not good enough to be among the elite in Europe. Their campaign is memorable because of one thing; that they topped Portugal during the qualifiers beating them once and drawing away.
Croatia is proving to be tougher than they look, but it is no real surprise to me. They have been passing well, patiently building up play, not rushing to look for the goals. There is hardly anything wrong with their football though purists will expect more, but the truth is Croatia plays football effectively. They have scorers everywhere too as 4 different players have scored thus far. Look for them to easily overcome Turkey in q-finals. Semi-finals beckons.
Austria must have known that they simply cannot get out of this group as the odds were simply stacked against them. Even their fans did not want to see their team play as they cannot bear the humiliation. What really happened after all 3 games had been played must have surely strike a common chord in the country. Austria actually managed to hold their own against the other 3 teams. True, they almost lost all 3 games (the near loss against Poland was drawn in the final minutes) but there was nothing shameful for Austrians to be suffering from.
Germany had captain maestro Ballack to thank for that one moment of glory to ensure a date with the Portugese. Having said that, they were again unconvincing. The buzz of expectations deriving from previous recent tournaments must surely be hanging at the top of their heads. Yet, they must keep calm and take it all in their stride for the obvious potential is there to be tapped, but that it must be harnessed properly. The best is yet to come from them.
Klagenfurt - Wörthersee - Austria
POLAND 0 - 1 CROATIA
Klasnic 53
Entertainment value: 3 / 5
match 2:
Ernst Happel - Vienna - Austria
AUSTRIA 0 - 1 GERMANY
Ballack 49
EV: 3 / 5
Poland needed to win big against Croatia with at least a 2-0 victory but eventually succumbed to a single Croatioan goal who is the first team among the 4 group leaders to achieve perfect 9 for 9. Germany secured 2nd spot for a q-final place with Portugal after Ballack struck a screamer of a free-kick to send the hosts home - well they were home already.
Poland were simply outclassed by a team on form. They had to win at least 2-0 but even a slender victory will have been too much to ask for. Despite that, they can learn from this adventure and propel them to greater heights for the future. As it stands in the present moment, the team is not good enough to be among the elite in Europe. Their campaign is memorable because of one thing; that they topped Portugal during the qualifiers beating them once and drawing away.
Croatia is proving to be tougher than they look, but it is no real surprise to me. They have been passing well, patiently building up play, not rushing to look for the goals. There is hardly anything wrong with their football though purists will expect more, but the truth is Croatia plays football effectively. They have scorers everywhere too as 4 different players have scored thus far. Look for them to easily overcome Turkey in q-finals. Semi-finals beckons.
Austria must have known that they simply cannot get out of this group as the odds were simply stacked against them. Even their fans did not want to see their team play as they cannot bear the humiliation. What really happened after all 3 games had been played must have surely strike a common chord in the country. Austria actually managed to hold their own against the other 3 teams. True, they almost lost all 3 games (the near loss against Poland was drawn in the final minutes) but there was nothing shameful for Austrians to be suffering from.
Germany had captain maestro Ballack to thank for that one moment of glory to ensure a date with the Portugese. Having said that, they were again unconvincing. The buzz of expectations deriving from previous recent tournaments must surely be hanging at the top of their heads. Yet, they must keep calm and take it all in their stride for the obvious potential is there to be tapped, but that it must be harnessed properly. The best is yet to come from them.
akim - the Italian fan