Group B

A Ballack belter was enough to take Germany through to the next round at the expense of hosts Austria. The Germans almost took a 5th minute lead but Gomez missed a sitter from 2 yards out. Macho got down well to turn Podolski's 23rd minute strike past the post. Austrian coach Josef Hickersberger and his German counterpart Joachim Löw were ordered to the stands in the 41st minute, but this did not affect the match and 4 minutes into the 2nd half Ballack unleashed a rocket into the top right corner from a free-kick. Macho stopped an 89th minute shot from Frings, but Germany had already done enough to knock their hosts out and go through to meet Portugal. (Austria 0 Germany 1)

Poland's slim chance of reaching the next round came to an end when they were beaten by a weakened Croatia side. Artur Boruc made a string of saves to keep Poland in the game, but in teh 53rd minute Pranjic cut the ball back for Klasnic to turn past the Polish keeper. Guerreiro was inches away from an equaliser with a shot in the 64th minute as was Smolarek in the 81st minute, but Croatia deserved the win and would have enjoyed a bigger margin had it not been for Boruc in the Polish goal.
(Croatia 1 Poland 0)