Austria 0 Germany 1IT WAS not pretty and it certainly was less than impressive but, in the end, Germany duly won last night's Teutonic derby in Vienna, beating host nation Austria thanks to an imperious 49th-minute free-kick goal from arguably their only truly outstanding player, captain Michael Ballack.
So the Germans progress to a quarter-final clash with Portugal in Basle on Thursday. Even allowing for the fact Portugal's "B" team went down to Switzerland 2-0 in a relatively meaningless game in Basle on Sunday night, the Portuguese must start as warm favourites. The thought of Deco, Ronaldo, Nani et al taking on this static German defence is one that should set Portuguese hearts racing.
On paper, this was a clash between two nations from different footballing planets. After all, Germany are fifth in the Fifa rankings, while Austria are rather down the list at 92.
For the first five minutes, it looked as if those rankings might be reflected by the play. The Germans began with an all too obvious desire to get the job done and to perhaps make the most of Austrian nerves on what was, after all, a very big night for the home team. Remember this was a do-or-die affair for the home team who could have pulled off one of the biggest results of their history by eliminating their powerful neighbours and rivals.
Yet, the occasion at first seemed too much for the Austrians. Twice Germany deprived them of possession in and around their area with alarming ease, giving the impression a goal would be simply no problem. In only the fifth minute, German striker Miroslav Klose waltzed deep into the Austrian penalty area before squaring a pass for attack partner Mario Gomez. Almost exactly as he had done in the opening minutes of Germany's opening 2-0 defeat of Poland, Gomez missed a sitter from five yards out, skying a pass that required only a tap-in.
If that bright start had suggested a German rout, it was misleading. It was always possible Germany's 2-1 defeat by Croatia in Klagenfurt might have put a very large spanner in the German works and so it proved. Spurred on by the wildly enthusiastic home crowd, it was the Austrians who ironically reacted best to a start-up that could have seen them 0-2 down after those early minutes.
As the first half progressed, it became clear the Austrians were taking heart from the home support whilst the Germans looked short on ideas. In the 18th minute, Austria were even appealing for a penalty after Christoph Metzelder appeared to knock over Austrian striker Erwin Hoffer. Spanish referee Mejuto Gonzales, however, saw it as a case of 50-50 pushing and shoving between the players.
With Germany looking less than inspired and with Austria willing but less than able, the first half developed into a scrappy affair. Indeed, arguably the most dramatic moment of the first 45 minutes came when both coaches, Joachim Loew of Germany and Josef Hickersberger of Austria, were sent off by Gonzales after the two men had squabbled on the touchline. This was doubtless some kind of footballing first that will find its way into a Trivial Pursuit question.
When Ballack put Germany ahead four minutes into the second half, one imagined that finally the Germans would refind the sort of momentum that had made them so dangerous in the opening moments of the game. That, however, was failing to reckon with an Austrian performance that was full of pride.
The Austrians are probably one of the weakest teams at these finals and certainly showed little to justify a place in the quarter-finals. However, like Switzerland on Sunday night in their 2-0 win over Portugal, the home team was intent on going out of the tournament on a high note.
So it was that Austria continued to battle away, even creating half chances for Andreas Ivanshitz in the 82nd minute and for Hoffer in the 84th. For all that, though, the fairytale ending never really seemed likely and it was Germany who could argue that they came closest to scoring another goal, especially when substitute Oliver Neuville missed a clear counter-attacking chance with almost the last kick of the game.
"The team put up a great fight. At the start we should have gone in front and the match would have been easier. The way it worked out we had to fight to the last minute," Ballack said afterwards.
"It's our own fault we ended up in this situation due to the Croatia match. It meant we couldn't play relaxed."
So Germany trundle on but, on the basis of this performance, their Euro 2008 journey will come to a halt when they meet Portugal on Thursday.
AUSTRIA:Macho, Garics, Stranzl, Hiden (Leitgeb 55), Pogatetz, Harnik (Kienast 67), Aufhauser (Saumel 63), Ivanschitz, Fuchs, Korkmaz, Hoffer. Subs not used: Manninger, Ozcan, Standfest, Vastic, Linz, Gercaliu, Katzer, Patocka. Booked: Stranzl, Hoffer, Ivanschitz.
GERMANY:Lehmann, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Fritz (Borowski 90), Frings, Ballack, Podolski (Neuville 83), Gomez (Hitzlsperger 60), Klose. Subs not used: Enke, Adler, Jansen, Westermann, Rolfes, Trochowski, Odonkor, Kuranyi.
Referee:Manuel EM Gonzalez (Spain).
