Euro 2008 Day Ten

[Newshound]

16 June 2008<br>
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POLAND 0<br>
CROATIA 1 (Klasnic 53)<br>
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The Poles created two chances inside the first ten minutes against Bilic's reserves. Saganowski flicked on a longball out of defence to Lobodzinski and Runje, under pressure from Krzynowek, bravely flew off his line to punch clear the wingers cross taking out one of his own defenders in the process. From the resulting corner Polish midfielder Dudka towered above the Croat defence but sent his header hopelessly wide. Rakitic, who has been linked with Juve, swung in a great free kick in from the right flank which Vejic sent bouncing wide of Boruc's left post. Klasnic played the PES classic lofted one-two pass with Petric and raced through on goal but was denied by the excellent, excellent Boruc. Rakitic missed an open goal on a rebound after Boruc dived to save at the feet of Klasnic.<br>
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Klasnic was bundled over on the edge of the box following a tremendous run by Rakitic but surprisingly the Croats didn't appeal as the ref waved play on, Pranjic gathered the loose ball, drove into the box and cut back for Klasnic to shoot first time into the bottom right corner. Great finish. Passport cheat Guerreiro had a chance to score an equaliser against the run of play after a slip by Simic (retire already) but dragged his shot wide.<br>
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I thought this was Croatia's best performance to date. Rakitic and not Modric, has been Croatia's standout player. I'm a big fan of Klasnic and see him as much more of a threat than the rubbish Ivica Olic. <br>
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Attendance : 30,000<br>
Assist : Pranjic<br>
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AUSTRIA 0<br>
GERMANY 1 (Ballack 49 fk)<br>
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Klose ran onto a throw in, accelerated past two defenders, turned inside Hiden and rolled a pass to Gomez who, standing a yard out, sliced the ball up in the air and didn't bother challenging Garics for the rebound. COMPLETE PUSSY. On 19 minutes there was a great chance for Jimmy Hoffa when Hiden chipped a diagonal ball into the box but Lehmann was alert to a wretched first touch and dived at the Austrian striker's feet to save. Podolski snapped a drive from 25 yards, drawing a great save from Macho. Hickersberger and Low were sent off on 40 minutes because Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez is a shit ref.<br>
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A tremendous run by Lahm deep into the Austria half was crudely ended by Ivanschitz (don't forget to wash you hands). Ballack took the resulting free kick about 30 yards from goal and sent a bullet of a right foot shot into the top corner, the first free kick goal of the tournament. Hoffa missed a chance to equalise when he turned onto Ivanschitz's miss-hit shot but fired wide. Lehmann found the wretched Neuville, on as a late sub for Podolski, with a monstrous 50 yard throw, as the Austrian defence backed off he shot wide from 16 yards.<br>
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A better defensive performance from Germany but they were only playing Austria who suck utterly. Gomez has been a complete failure. I'm not sure what Kuranyi has to do to get a chance.<br>
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Attendance : 50,000<br>
Assist : Lahm (won fk)<br>

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