Germany captain Michael Ballack booked his side’s place in the UEFA EURO 2008 quarter-finals with a thunderous free-kick, ending the hopes of Austria despite a valiant effort from the co-hosts in Vienna.

Clinical strike
To overtake their opponents and claim the runners-up spot in Group B, Austria needed to beat their neighbours – something they had not achieved since defeating West Germany in 1986. The home team enjoyed long periods of possession but, as in their February friendly loss in this stadium against the same opposition, were made to pay for a lack of a cutting edge up front – Ballack settling the contest in the 49th minute with a characteristically clinical set-piece. Coach Joachim Löw, who was sent to the stands with his Austria counterpart Josef Hickersberger just before half-time, can look forward to a quarter-final against Group A winners Portugal, in Basel on Thursday.

Remarkable miss
Josef Hickersberger made three changes to the side that snatched a last-gasp draw with Poland on Thursday, surprisingly giving 21-year-old Erwin Hoffer his second senior start in place of Roland Linz up front. If that was designed to improve the co-hosts’ potency, it initially backfired as Germany enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and, but for a remarkable Mario Gómez miss, the home crowd would have been silenced by the fifth minute. Miroslav Klose was the architect of the move, tricking his way down the right and delivering a low cross that bypassed goalkeeper Jürgen Macho, only for Gómez to mistime his shot at the unguarded net, allowing György Garics to head his looping effort off the line.

Austria advance
Gómez then drew a regulation save from Macho with a low angled drive, before Hoffer began to provide evidence of the poaching skills that made him such a prolific scorer in his country’s youth teams, narrowly failing to control an Andreas Ivanschitz cross which would have left him clear. Austria nevertheless took heart from that opening and enjoyed their first spell of sustained pressure, Jens Lehmann diving to his right to touch behind René Aufhauser’s low shot, although Macho had to do likewise to keep out a Lukas Podolski attempt from distance.

Ballack breakthrough
With so much at stake, it was little surprise that tensions were running high on and off the field, and following a heated exchange on the touchline Josef Hickersberger and Löw were dismissed. It was the latter whose side seemed less affected by their coach’s absence, however, and within four minutes of the restart Germany were ahead. Andreas Ivanschitz pulled down Philipp Lahm as the left-back drove forward and Ballack exploited the resulting free-kick to the full, driving an unstoppable shot high into the net from 25 metres.

Positive omen
Lahm and Podolski both missed the target while Macho saved from Per Mertesacker and Klose as Germany sought to increase their advantage. Nonetheless, Austria never lost heart and Hoffer flashed a shot just wide of Lehmann’s goal. Germany have now won their last five games against these opponents and at the final whistle celebrated reaching the last eight for the first time since 1996 – when they went on to lift the trophy. Meanwhile, for the first time no host nation will be represented in the knockout rounds.

Euro 2008 Group B will come to a conclusion with the Austria – Germany match outcome proving crucial to decide which nation will take on Portugal in the quarterfinals. An Austria victory will see the host nation or Poland progress at the expense of Germany, meaning that debutants will survive the Group phase for the first time since 1996. It is not imposible, but it is difficult.
Germany themselves were the last to lift the trophy on their debut (1972).
Progress by debutants at European Championship, according to Infostrada Sports
2004 Latvia 4th (of 4) in group
2000 Norway 3rd (of 4) in group
2000 Slovenia 4th (of 4) in group
1996 Croatia Quarterfinals
1996 Bulgaria 3rd (of 4) in group
1996 Turkey 4th (of 4) in group
1996 Switzerland 4th (of 4) in group
1992 Sweden Semifinals
1992 Scotland 3rd (of 4) in group
1988 Republic of Ireland 3rd (of 4) in group
1984 Portugal Semifinals
1984 Romania 4th (of 4) in group
1980 Greece 4th (of 4) in group
1976 Netherlands Third place
1972 Germany Winners
1972 Belgium Third place
1968 Italy Winners
1968 England Third place
1964 Spain Winners
1964 Hungary Third place
1964 Denmark Fourth place
1960 Russia Winners
1960 Yugoslavia Runners-up
1960 Czech Republic Third place
1960 France Fourth place

Austria 1 - 1 Poland

Croatian-born Austrian player of the year Ivica Vastic became the oldest scorer in Euro championships history as he converted an injury-time penalty to give the co-hosts a 1-1 draw with Poland and ironically send his Croatia compatriots into the Euro 2008 quarter-finals.

The 38-year-old - who also scored the last time Austria appeared in a major finals at the 1998 World Cup in France - slotted home to keep Austrian hopes alive of making the quarter-finals, though they will have to beat Germany to do so.

“We had many chances tonight (Thursday) without converting them,” said Vastic.

“But as one saw the most difficult thing to do is to score goals.

“It is now all down to the Germany match and it is vital we have stronger nerves than our opponents.”

The Poles, who were incredulous at English referee Howard Webb’s decision, had earlier taken the lead through 26-year-old Brazilian-born striker Roger Guerreiro, who only became a naturalised Pole in March.

The Austrians started brightly with captain Andreas Ivanschitz - whose romantic life has featured largely in the papers of late - having two shots at goal, one sailing harmlessly wide while his 32 metres freekick didn’t pose a problem for Polish ‘keeper Artur Boruc.

However, Boruc had to be at his best in the 11th minute as a poor backpass by a Polish defender released Austria’s Martin Harnik, who raced clear but his shot into the far corner was deflected by the Celtic ‘keeper for a corner.

Boruc did even better two minutes later as Vmit Korkmaz put in a great pass into the penalty area but Harnik again had his shot saved by Boruc with his legs failing to add to his international haul of two goals.

The Polish guardian was again equal to the task a few minutes later as with the Poland defence in disarray Christoph Leitgeb ran onto a beautifully weighted pass but his shot was again saved by Boruc.

The Poles - looking nothing like a side that finished above Portugal in their qualifying group - took over 20 minutes to even force a corner and after repelling another Austrian attack they hit the co-hosts with a real sucker punch.

Marek Saganowski controlled the ball after a brilliant cross from Euzebiusz Smolarek inside the penalty area and managed to get his pass past the outstretched hand of Jurgen Macho and the boot of Austria’s Middlesbrough defender Emmanuel Pogatetz, for Guerreiro to slot it into the net, though he looked to be offside.

The goal provoked a rueful smile from Austrian coach Josef Hickersberger and a shake of the head while his players heads went down.

Unsurprisingly, Poland’s veteran Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker had seen enough of Mariusz Jop at centreback and took him off at half-time as he tried to shore up his defence.

The Austrians thought they should have had a penalty in the 48th minute as Andreas Ivanschitz went down in the box under a challenge from Pawel Golanski but Webb waved aside the Austrian captain’s appeals and it clearly looked as if he had dived.

Poland had a bit of wind in their sails and the impressive Smolarek surged onto a great ball by Guerreiro turned the defender and forced a bit of a fumbled save from Macho.

Macho was more alert in saving his side from going two down just after the hour mark as he got down smartly and blocked Polish captain Jacek Bak’s shot with his legs, and got up to beat away a follow up shot by Mariusz Lewandowski.

Josef Hickersberger decided to ring the changes at that point and somewhat surprisingly took off Andreas Ivanschitz and Roland Linz and sent on 38-year-old veteran Vastic and Roman Kienaast.

However, it was the Poles who had the next effort on goal with a fierce freekick by Jacek Krzynowek, which was tipped over the bar brilliantly by Macho.

The Austrians rarely troubled the Polish defence or indeed the magisterial Boruc with just Sebastian Prodl - who is suspended for the next match with the Germans - getting anywhere near the target with a header 10 minutes from time that went past the post.

It took Vastic to break the Poles’ hearts.