UEFA Euro 2008 Group B

Group B of UEFA Euro 2008 was played from 8 to 16 June 2008. All six of the group's matches were played at venues in Austria, in Vienna and Klagenfurt. The group was made up of four central European nations; co-hosts Austria, as well as Croatia, Germany and Poland. Austria and Poland were appearing in a European Championship finals for the first time.

Croatia became the first team from the group to qualify for the quarter-finals after following up a 1–0 victory against Austria in their first match with a 2–1 win over Germany. This, in conjunction with Austria's 1–1 draw with Poland, meant that Croatia finish top of Group B. The second quarter-final berth was decided by the group's final matches, with Germany defeating Austria through a Michael Ballack free kick, making the result of the Poland vs. Croatia match irrelevant. Had Germany lost, Poland could still have qualified with a win over Croatia. However, a goal from Ivan Klasnić won the game for Croatia, making the Croatians the first team to gain maximum points in the group stage.

Teams edit

Draw position Team Pot Method of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
UEFA Rankings FIFA Rankings
June 2008
November 2007[nb 1] May 2008[nb 2]
B1   Austria 1 Co-host 12 December 2002 1st Debut 27 29 92
B2   Croatia 2 Group E winner 17 November 2007 3rd 2004 Quarter-finals (1996) 2 11 15
B3   Germany[nb 3] 3 Group D runner-up 13 October 2007 10th 2004 Winners (1972, 1980, 1996) 7 4 5
B4   Poland 4 Group A winner 17 November 2007 1st Debut 12 13 28

Notes

  1. ^ The UEFA rankings of November 2007 were used for seeding for the final draw.
  2. ^ UEFA unveiled a new ranking system in May 2008 based on results up to November 2007.
  3. ^ From 1972 to 1988, Germany competed as West Germany.

Standings edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Croatia 3 3 0 0 4 1 +3 9 Advance to knockout phase
2   Germany 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2 6
3   Austria (H) 3 0 1 2 1 3 −2 1[a]
4   Poland 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1[a]
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Tied on head-to-head result (Austria 1–1 Poland). Overall goal difference was used as the tiebreaker.

In the quarter-finals,

  • The winner of Group B, Croatia, advanced to play the runner-up of Group A, Turkey.
  • The runner-up of Group B, Germany, advanced to play the winner of Group A, Portugal.

Matches edit

Austria vs Croatia edit

Austria  0–1  Croatia
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Austria[2]
 
 
 
 
 
 
Croatia[2]
GK 21 Jürgen Macho
CB 15 Sebastian Prödl   68'
CB 3 Martin Stranzl
CB 4 Emanuel Pogatetz   3'
DM 6 René Aufhauser
DM 19 Jürgen Säumel   21'   61'
RM 2 Joachim Standfest
LM 12 Ronald Gërçaliu   69'
AM 10 Andreas Ivanschitz (c)
CF 20 Martin Harnik
CF 9 Roland Linz   73'
Substitutions:
MF 7 Ivica Vastić   61'
MF 11 Ümit Korkmaz   69'
FW 18 Roman Kienast   73'
Manager:
Josef Hickersberger
 
GK 1 Stipe Pletikosa
RB 5 Vedran Ćorluka
CB 4 Robert Kovač   51'
CB 3 Josip Šimunić
LB 22 Danijel Pranjić
RM 11 Darijo Srna
CM 10 Niko Kovač (c)
CM 14 Luka Modrić
LM 19 Niko Kranjčar   61'
CF 18 Ivica Olić   83'
CF 21 Mladen Petrić   72'
Substitutions:
DF 15 Dario Knežević   61'
FW 20 Igor Budan   72'
MF 8 Ognjen Vukojević   83'
Manager:
Slaven Bilić

Man of the Match:
Stipe Pletikosa (Croatia)[1]

Assistant referees:[2][3]
Adriaan Inia (Netherlands)
Hans ten Hoove (Netherlands)
Fourth official:
Kristinn Jakobsson (Iceland)
Reserve assistant referee:
Dimitrios Bozatzidis (Greece)

Germany vs Poland edit

Germany  2–0  Poland
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Germany[5]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Poland[5]
GK 1 Jens Lehmann
RB 16 Philipp Lahm
CB 21 Christoph Metzelder
CB 17 Per Mertesacker
LB 2 Marcell Jansen
RM 4 Clemens Fritz   56'
CM 8 Torsten Frings
CM 13 Michael Ballack (c)
LM 20 Lukas Podolski
CF 9 Mario Gómez   75'
CF 11 Miroslav Klose   90+1'
Substitutions:
MF 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger   64'   56'
MF 15 Thomas Hitzlsperger   75'
FW 22 Kevin Kurányi   90+1'
Manager:
Joachim Löw
 
GK 1 Artur Boruc
RB 13 Marcin Wasilewski
CB 14 Michał Żewłakow
CB 6 Jacek Bąk
LB 4 Paweł Golański   75'
CM 5 Dariusz Dudka
CM 18 Mariusz Lewandowski   60'
RW 17 Wojciech Łobodziński   65'
AM 9 Maciej Żurawski (c)   46'
LW 8 Jacek Krzynówek
CF 7 Ebi Smolarek   40'
Substitutions:
MF 20 Roger Guerreiro   46'
MF 16 Łukasz Piszczek   65'
FW 11 Marek Saganowski   75'
Manager:
  Leo Beenhakker

Man of the Match:
Lukas Podolski (Germany)[4]

Assistant referees:[5][3]
Geir Åge Holen (Norway)
Jan Petter Randen (Norway)
Fourth official:
Craig Thomson (Scotland)
Reserve assistant referee:
Dimitrios Saraidaris (Greece)

Croatia vs Germany edit

Croatia  2–1  Germany
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
Croatia[7]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Germany[7]
GK 1 Stipe Pletikosa
RB 5 Vedran Ćorluka
CB 4 Robert Kovač
CB 3 Josip Šimunić   45+1'
LB 22 Danijel Pranjić
RM 11 Darijo Srna   27'   80'
CM 14 Luka Modrić   90+3'
CM 10 Niko Kovač (c)
LM 7 Ivan Rakitić
SS 19 Niko Kranjčar   85'
CF 18 Ivica Olić   72'
Substitutions:
FW 21 Mladen Petrić   72'
MF 16 Jerko Leko   90+2'   80'
DF 15 Dario Knežević   85'
Manager:
Slaven Bilić
 
GK 1 Jens Lehmann   90+2'
RB 16 Philipp Lahm
CB 21 Christoph Metzelder
CB 17 Per Mertesacker
LB 2 Marcell Jansen   46'
RM 4 Clemens Fritz   82'
CM 8 Torsten Frings
CM 13 Michael Ballack (c)   75'
LM 20 Lukas Podolski
CF 9 Mario Gómez   66'
CF 11 Miroslav Klose
Substitutions:
MF 19 David Odonkor   46'
MF 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger   90+2'   66'
FW 22 Kevin Kurányi   82'
Manager:
Joachim Löw

Man of the Match:
Luka Modrić (Croatia)[6]

Assistant referees:[7][3]
Peter Hermans (Belgium)
Alex Verstraeten (Belgium)
Fourth official:
Stéphane Lannoy (France)
Reserve assistant referee:
Matthias Arnet (Switzerland)

Austria vs Poland edit

Austria  1–1  Poland
Report
Attendance: 51,428[8]
Referee: Howard Webb (England)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Austria[9]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Poland[9]
GK 21 Jürgen Macho
RB 14 György Garics
CB 15 Sebastian Prödl   72'
CB 3 Martin Stranzl
LB 4 Emanuel Pogatetz
DM 6 René Aufhauser   74'
RM 8 Christoph Leitgeb
CM 10 Andreas Ivanschitz (c)   64'
LM 11 Ümit Korkmaz   56'
CF 20 Martin Harnik
CF 9 Roland Linz   64'
Substitutions:
MF 7 Ivica Vastić   64'
FW 18 Roman Kienast   64'
MF 19 Jürgen Säumel   74'
Manager:
Josef Hickersberger
 
GK 1 Artur Boruc
RB 13 Marcin Wasilewski   58'
CB 2 Mariusz Jop   46'
CB 6 Jacek Bąk (c)   90+3'
LB 14 Michał Żewłakow
RM 5 Dariusz Dudka
CM 18 Mariusz Lewandowski
LM 8 Jacek Krzynówek   61'
AM 20 Roger Guerreiro   85'
CF 11 Marek Saganowski   83'
CF 7 Ebi Smolarek
Substitutions:
DF 4 Paweł Golański   46'
MF 17 Wojciech Łobodziński   83'
MF 19 Rafał Murawski   85'
Manager:
  Leo Beenhakker

Man of the Match:
Roger Guerreiro (Poland)[8]

Assistant referees:[9][3]
Darren Cann (England)
Mike Mullarkey (England)
Fourth official:
Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Reserve assistant referee:
Stéphane Cuhat (Switzerland)

Poland vs Croatia edit

Poland  0–1  Croatia
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Poland[11]
 
 
 
 
 
 
Croatia[11]
GK 1 Artur Boruc
RB 13 Marcin Wasilewski
CB 14 Michał Żewłakow (c)
CB 5 Dariusz Dudka
LB 3 Jakub Wawrzyniak
CM 19 Rafał Murawski
CM 18 Mariusz Lewandowski   38'   46'
RW 17 Wojciech Łobodziński   55'
AM 20 Roger Guerreiro
LW 8 Jacek Krzynówek
CF 11 Marek Saganowski   69'
Substitutions:
DF 23 Adam Kokoszka   46'
FW 7 Ebi Smolarek   55'
FW 21 Tomasz Zahorski   84'   69'
Manager:
  Leo Beenhakker
 
GK 23 Vedran Runje
RB 2 Dario Šimić (c)
CB 6 Hrvoje Vejić   45'
CB 15 Dario Knežević   27'
LB 22 Danijel Pranjić
RM 16 Jerko Leko
CM 8 Ognjen Vukojević   85'
CM 13 Nikola Pokrivač
LM 7 Ivan Rakitić
CF 17 Ivan Klasnić   74'
CF 21 Mladen Petrić   75'
Substitutions:
DF 5 Vedran Ćorluka   27'
FW 9 Nikola Kalinić   74'
MF 19 Niko Kranjčar   75'
Manager:
Slaven Bilić

Man of the Match:
Ivan Klasnić (Croatia)[10]

Assistant referees:[11][3]
Dimitrios Bozatzidis (Greece)
Dimitrios Saraidaris (Greece)
Fourth official:
Olegário Benquerença (Portugal)
Reserve assistant referee:
Alessandro Griselli (Italy)

Austria vs Germany edit

Austria  0–1  Germany
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Austria[13]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Germany[13]
GK 21 Jürgen Macho
RB 14 György Garics
CB 3 Martin Stranzl   13'
CB 17 Martin Hiden   55'
LB 4 Emanuel Pogatetz
CM 6 René Aufhauser   63'
CM 5 Christian Fuchs
RW 20 Martin Harnik   67'
AM 10 Andreas Ivanschitz (c)   48'
LW 11 Ümit Korkmaz
CF 22 Erwin Hoffer   31'
Substitutions:
MF 8 Christoph Leitgeb   55'
MF 19 Jürgen Säumel   63'
FW 18 Roman Kienast   67'
Manager:
Josef Hickersberger[note 1]
 
GK 1 Jens Lehmann
RB 3 Arne Friedrich
CB 17 Per Mertesacker
CB 21 Christoph Metzelder
LB 16 Philipp Lahm
RM 4 Clemens Fritz   90+3'
CM 8 Torsten Frings
CM 13 Michael Ballack (c)
LM 20 Lukas Podolski   83'
CF 9 Mario Gómez   60'
CF 11 Miroslav Klose
Substitutions:
MF 15 Thomas Hitzlsperger   60'
FW 10 Oliver Neuville   83'
MF 18 Tim Borowski   90+3'
Manager:
Joachim Löw[note 1]

Man of the Match:
Michael Ballack (Germany)[12]

Assistant referees:[13][3]
Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (Spain)
Jesús Calvo Guadamuro (Spain)
Fourth official:
Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
Reserve assistant referee:
Paolo Calcagno (Italy)

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Both Hickersberger and Löw were expelled by the referee in the 41st minute.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Full-time report Austria-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group B – Austria-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Reserve officials – EURO 2008". UEFA. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Full-time report Germany-Poland" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  5. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group B – Germany-Poland" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Full-time report Croatia-Germany" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  7. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group B – Croatia-Germany" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Full-time report Austria-Poland" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  9. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group B – Austria-Poland" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Full-time report Poland-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  11. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group B – Poland-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Full-time report Austria-Germany" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  13. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group B – Austria-Germany" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.

External links edit