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 Draw position Team Pot Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance UEFA Rankings FIFA RankingsJune 2008 November 2007 May 2008 B1 1 Co-host 12 December 2002 1st — Debut 27 29 92 B2 2 Group E winner 17 November 2007 3rd 2004 Quarter-finals (1996) 2 11 15 B3 3 Group D runner-up 13 October 2007 10th 2004 Winners (1972, 1980, 1996) 7 4 5 B4 4 Group A winner 17 November 2007 1st — Debut 12 13 28
Notes
Standings
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
Austria vs Croatia
GK 21Jürgen MachoCB 15Sebastian Prödl CB 3 Martin StranzlCB 4 Emanuel Pogatetz DM 6 René AufhauserDM 19Jürgen Säumel RM 2 Joachim StandfestLM 12Ronald Gërçaliu AM 10Andreas Ivanschitz (c)CF 20Martin HarnikCF 9 Roland Linz Substitutions:MF 7 Ivica Vastić MF 11Ümit Korkmaz FW 18Roman Kienast Manager:Josef Hickersberger GK 1 Stipe PletikosaRB 5 Vedran ĆorlukaCB 4 Robert Kovač CB 3 Josip ŠimunićLB 22Danijel PranjićRM 11Darijo SrnaCM 10Niko Kovač (c)CM 14Luka ModrićLM 19Niko Kranjčar CF 18Ivica Olić CF 21Mladen Petrić Substitutions:DF 15Dario Knežević FW 20Igor Budan MF 8 Ognjen Vukojević Manager:Slaven Bilić
Man of the Match: Stipe Pletikosa (Croatia)
Assistant referees: Adriaan Inia (Netherlands) Hans ten Hoove (Netherlands) Fourth official: Kristinn Jakobsson (Iceland) Reserve assistant referee: Dimitrios Bozatzidis (Greece)
Germany vs Poland
GK 1 Jens LehmannRB 16Philipp LahmCB 21Christoph MetzelderCB 17Per MertesackerLB 2 Marcell JansenRM 4 Clemens Fritz CM 8 Torsten FringsCM 13Michael Ballack (c)LM 20Lukas PodolskiCF 9 Mario Gómez CF 11Miroslav Klose Substitutions:MF 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger MF 15Thomas Hitzlsperger FW 22Kevin Kurányi Manager:Joachim Löw GK 1 Artur BorucRB 13Marcin WasilewskiCB 14Michał ŻewłakowCB 6 Jacek BąkLB 4 Paweł Golański CM 5 Dariusz DudkaCM 18Mariusz Lewandowski RW 17Wojciech Łobodziński AM 9 Maciej Żurawski (c) LW 8 Jacek KrzynówekCF 7 Ebi Smolarek Substitutions:MF 20Roger Guerreiro MF 16Łukasz Piszczek FW 11Marek Saganowski Manager: Leo Beenhakker
Man of the Match: Lukas Podolski (Germany)
Assistant referees: Geir Åge Holen (Norway) Jan Petter Randen (Norway) Fourth official: Craig Thomson (Scotland) Reserve assistant referee: Dimitrios Saraidaris (Greece)
Croatia vs Germany
GK 1 Stipe PletikosaRB 5 Vedran ĆorlukaCB 4 Robert KovačCB 3 Josip Šimunić LB 22Danijel PranjićRM 11Darijo Srna CM 14Luka Modrić CM 10Niko Kovač (c)LM 7 Ivan RakitićSS 19Niko Kranjčar CF 18Ivica Olić Substitutions:FW 21Mladen Petrić MF 16Jerko Leko DF 15Dario Knežević Manager:Slaven Bilić GK 1 Jens Lehmann RB 16Philipp LahmCB 21Christoph MetzelderCB 17Per MertesackerLB 2 Marcell Jansen RM 4 Clemens Fritz CM 8 Torsten FringsCM 13Michael Ballack (c) LM 20Lukas PodolskiCF 9 Mario Gómez CF 11Miroslav KloseSubstitutions:MF 19David Odonkor MF 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger FW 22Kevin Kurányi Manager:Joachim Löw
Man of the Match: Luka Modrić (Croatia)
Assistant referees: Peter Hermans (Belgium) Alex Verstraeten (Belgium) Fourth official: Stéphane Lannoy (France) Reserve assistant referee: Matthias Arnet (Switzerland)
Austria vs Poland
GK 21Jürgen MachoRB 14György GaricsCB 15Sebastian Prödl CB 3 Martin StranzlLB 4 Emanuel PogatetzDM 6 René Aufhauser RM 8 Christoph LeitgebCM 10Andreas Ivanschitz (c) LM 11Ümit Korkmaz CF 20Martin HarnikCF 9 Roland Linz Substitutions:MF 7 Ivica Vastić FW 18Roman Kienast MF 19Jürgen Säumel Manager:Josef Hickersberger GK 1 Artur BorucRB 13Marcin Wasilewski CB 2 Mariusz Jop CB 6 Jacek Bąk (c) LB 14Michał ŻewłakowRM 5 Dariusz DudkaCM 18Mariusz LewandowskiLM 8 Jacek Krzynówek AM 20Roger Guerreiro CF 11Marek Saganowski CF 7 Ebi SmolarekSubstitutions:DF 4 Paweł Golański MF 17Wojciech Łobodziński MF 19Rafał Murawski Manager: Leo Beenhakker
Man of the Match: Roger Guerreiro (Poland)
Assistant referees: Darren Cann (England) Mike Mullarkey (England) Fourth official: Viktor Kassai (Hungary) Reserve assistant referee: Stéphane Cuhat (Switzerland)
Poland vs Croatia
GK 1 Artur BorucRB 13Marcin WasilewskiCB 14Michał Żewłakow (c)CB 5 Dariusz DudkaLB 3 Jakub WawrzyniakCM 19Rafał MurawskiCM 18Mariusz Lewandowski RW 17Wojciech Łobodziński AM 20Roger GuerreiroLW 8 Jacek KrzynówekCF 11Marek Saganowski Substitutions:DF 23Adam Kokoszka FW 7 Ebi Smolarek FW 21Tomasz Zahorski Manager: Leo Beenhakker GK 23Vedran RunjeRB 2 Dario Šimić (c)CB 6 Hrvoje Vejić CB 15Dario Knežević LB 22Danijel PranjićRM 16Jerko LekoCM 8 Ognjen Vukojević CM 13Nikola PokrivačLM 7 Ivan RakitićCF 17Ivan Klasnić CF 21Mladen Petrić Substitutions:DF 5 Vedran Ćorluka FW 9 Nikola Kalinić MF 19Niko Kranjčar Manager:Slaven Bilić
Man of the Match: Ivan Klasnić (Croatia)
Assistant referees: Dimitrios Bozatzidis (Greece) Dimitrios Saraidaris (Greece) Fourth official: Olegário Benquerença (Portugal) Reserve assistant referee: Alessandro Griselli (Italy)
Austria vs Germany
GK 21Jürgen MachoRB 14György GaricsCB 3 Martin Stranzl CB 17Martin Hiden LB 4 Emanuel PogatetzCM 6 René Aufhauser CM 5 Christian FuchsRW 20Martin Harnik AM 10Andreas Ivanschitz (c) LW 11Ümit KorkmazCF 22Erwin Hoffer Substitutions:MF 8 Christoph Leitgeb MF 19Jürgen Säumel FW 18Roman Kienast Manager:Josef Hickersberger GK 1 Jens LehmannRB 3 Arne FriedrichCB 17Per MertesackerCB 21Christoph MetzelderLB 16Philipp LahmRM 4 Clemens Fritz CM 8 Torsten FringsCM 13Michael Ballack (c)LM 20Lukas Podolski CF 9 Mario Gómez CF 11Miroslav KloseSubstitutions:MF 15Thomas Hitzlsperger FW 10Oliver Neuville MF 18Tim Borowski Manager:Joachim Löw
Man of the Match: Michael Ballack (Germany)
Assistant referees: Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (Spain) Jesús Calvo Guadamuro (Spain) Fourth official: Damir Skomina (Slovenia) Reserve assistant referee: Paolo Calcagno (Italy)
See also Austria at the UEFA European Championship Croatia at the UEFA European Championship Germany at the UEFA European Championship Poland at the UEFA European Championship
Notes
References
External links UEFA Euro 2008 Group B