Austria vs. Croatia
This could be cruel fun in a cat-playing-with-it's-crippled-prey way, or completely dire if Croatia do just enough because they're looking ahead to the next two matches.
posted by gooner71 @ 11:22 AM
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Sunday, June 08, 2008
This could be cruel fun in a cat-playing-with-it's-crippled-prey way, or completely dire if Croatia do just enough because they're looking ahead to the next two matches.
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
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33 Comments:
Once again, a magnificent effort on the posting from the Gooner. You've set a high bar for yourself already.
The teams for today's match:
Austria:
21. Jurgen Macho
15. Sebastien Prodl
3. Martin Stranzl
4. Emanuel Pogatetz
6. Rene Aufhauser
19. Jurgen Saumel
2. Joachim Standfest
12. Ronald Gercaliu
10. Andreas Ivanschitz
20. Martin Harnik
9. Roland Linz
Croatia:
1. Stipe Pletikosa
5. Vedran Corluka
4. Robert Kovac
3. Josip Simunic
22. Danijel Pranjic
11. Darijo Srna
10. Nico Kovac
14. Luka Modric
19. Niko Kranjcar
18. Ivica Olic
21. Mladen Petric
The worst possible start for the hosts. The man with the funniest name in the Premiership Emmanuel Pogatetz upends Olic in the box and the Dutch ref points to the spot.
Luka Modric duly slots home.
1-0 Croatia!
The central defender's advocate Tommy Smyth of course "didn't see much in it" and rated that a harsh penalty decision. It was notable that only Pogatetz protested the decision.
More frightened kittens in the Austrian defense and that could so easily have been two for the Croatians.
My apologies to Pogatetz - he does have a brilliantly funny name but it was actually Rene Aufhauser who committed the foul that led to the penalty and Pogatetz merely argued his case.
Tommy Smyth is still arguing Aufhauser's case for him - zealous representation from the Old Onion Bag.
Croatia setting up for another dangerous free kick....
ooohh, that was close. Olic stooped at the front post to head along the line and no one was there to touch it in.
It's all Croatia here - one of the more one-sided opening round European Championship matches that I can remember. Another dangerous corner swung over there and scrambled away by the Austrians.
Croatia's answer to Nigel Tufnell, Slavan Bilic, is up off the bench pacing about wondering how his side has failed to score in the past five minutes.
Prodl has a go from about forty-five yards and why not. Austria haven't come close to actually breaking down the Croatian defense.
The first shot on goal from Austria, a daisy cutter from Aufhauser. The Austrian strikers haven't had a sniff yet.
Half-time: Croatia 1-0.
The Croatians really took the foot off the gas when they didn't score an immediate second goal. The Austrians also roused themselves to a decent effort, although lacking in real class.
Second half starting up....
Austria start with a spring in their step and why not? They've weathered the early Croatia storm and are still very much in this one.
Robert Kovac picks up a yellow card for a late challenge.
Croatia have really let the Austrians back into this one. Bilic can't be happy with this display.
Here come the first changes for both sides. Niko Kranjcar has made way for Dario Kzenevic.
And 37 year old Croatian born striker Ivica Vastic has come on. Could he do the damage against his country of birth?
Prodl hauls down the Croatian winger Olic and picks up a deserved yellow.
Hitzelsperger throws the dice once more and sticks on Turkish born striker Umit Korkmaz. It's now or never for Austria with about twenty minutes to play.
Budan who plays for Parma in Serie A replaces Petric.
Korkmaz has made an immediate difference, earning a dangerous free kick on the edge of the Croatian box.
The other Austrian sub went straight for it, whipping the ball in but it was punched out.
Tremendous finish here from the Austrians and the crowd in the Ernst Happel Stadium are loving it, roaring on their side.
Vastic heads on goal and the Croatian keeper nearly bobbles it.
The Croatian defense gives away a needless corner and the Austrians send their big men up again. The Croatians get away with it again.
Ten minutes to play now and it's all going Austria's way now. The only question is whether they have the guile to break down the solid Croatia defense.
Another corner to Austria....
Appeals for a handball but the referee's not having any of it.
The replay proves that the referee was spot on in denying the penalty claim.
Korkmaz has a pop and it's palmed away from the corner.
Budan nearly sneaks in at the near post.
Croatia's forwards are trying to keep the pressure off their backline who've been under the cosh for most of the second half.
Into stoppage time and Austria surely have their last chance from a free kick.
Full-time: It's all over and the Austrians can feel hard done by. They put on a spirited effort after going down to an early penalty. Croatia didn't impress at all and look pretty relieved to get out of here with the three points.
I was left feeling very disappointed that Croatia are participating when England could be there. I thought the Croats were really awful against opposition that should have been humbled.
I don't fancy the Croats to go far unless they've shrugged off opening jitters and this is as ordinary a performance as they intend to put in.
Austria are triers, you have to give them that.
Did you laugh at how hard Pogotetz mugged Olic, but didn't get a yellow? It was GBH, but my Dutch nemesis bailed him out like he bailed those Scousers in the first leg.
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