UEFA Euro 2008 Group B

Football tournament group stage

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

[edit]

Draw position  | Team  | Pot  | Method of
qualification  | Date of
qualification  | Finals
appearance  | Last
appearance  | Previous best
performance  | UEFA Rankings | FIFA Rankings
June 2008

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

November 2007[nb 1] | May 2008[nb 2]
B1 |  Austria | 1 | Co-host | 12 December 2002 | 1st | — | Debut | 27 | 29 | 92
B2 |  Croatia | 2 | Group E winner | 17 November 2007 | 3rd | 2004 | Quarter-finals (1996) | 2 | 11 | 15
B3 |  Germany[nb 3] | 3 | Group D runner-up | 13 October 2007 | 10th | 2004 | Winners (1972, 1980, 1996) | 7 | 4 | 5
B4 |  Poland | 4 | Group A winner | 17 November 2007 | 1st | — | Debut | 12 | 13 | 28

Notes

1. ^ The UEFA rankings of November 2007 were used for seeding for the final draw.
2. ^ UEFA unveiled a new ranking system in May 2008 based on results up to November 2007.
3. ^ From 1972 to 1988, Germany competed as West Germany.

## Standings

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Croatia | 3  | 3  | 0  | 0  | 4  | 1  | +3  | 9  | Advance to knockout stage
2  |  Germany | 3  | 2  | 0  | 1  | 4  | 2  | +2  | 6
3  |  Austria (H) | 3  | 0  | 1  | 2  | 1  | 3  | −2  | 1[a] |
4  |  Poland | 3  | 0  | 1  | 2  | 1  | 4  | −3  | 1[a]

Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:

1. ^ a b Tied on head-to-head result (Austria 1–1 Poland). Overall goal difference was used as the tiebreaker.

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

[edit]

All times Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)

### Austria vs Croatia

[edit]

8 June 2008 (2008-6-8)

18:00

Austria | 0–1|  Croatia

|
|

| Report |

* Modrić 4' (pen.)

Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna

Attendance: 51,428[1]

Referee: Pieter Vink (Netherlands)

Austria[2]

Croatia[2]

|

|  |

|

GK | 21 | Jürgen Macho
CB | 15 | Sebastian Prödl |  68'
CB | 3 | Martin Stranzl
CB | 4 | Emanuel Pogatetz |  3'
DM | 6 | René Aufhauser
DM | 19 | Jürgen Säumel |  21' |  61'
RM | 2 | Joachim Standfest
LM | 12 | Ronald Gërçaliu |  |  69'
AM | 10 | Andreas Ivanschitz (c)
CF | 20 | Martin Harnik
CF | 9 | Roland Linz |  |  73'
Substitutions:
MF | 7 | Ivica Vastić |  |  61'
MF | 11 | Ümit Korkmaz |  |  69'
FW | 18 | Roman Kienast |  |  73'
Manager:
Josef Hickersberger
|  |  |

|

GK | 1 | Stipe Pletikosa
RB | 5 | Vedran Ćorluka
CB | 4 | Robert Kovač |  51'
CB | 3 | Josip Šimunić
LB | 22 | Danijel Pranjić
RM | 11 | Darijo Srna
CM | 10 | Niko Kovač (c)
CM | 14 | Luka Modrić
LM | 19 | Niko Kranjčar |  |  61'
CF | 18 | Ivica Olić |  |  83'
CF | 21 | Mladen Petrić |  |  72'
Substitutions:
DF | 15 | Dario Knežević |  |  61'
FW | 20 | Igor Budan |  |  72'
MF | 8 | Ognjen Vukojević |  |  83'
Manager:
Slaven Bilić

Man of the Match:
Stipe Pletikosa (Croatia)[1]

Assistant referees:[2][3]
Adriaan Inia (Netherlands)
Hans ten Hoove (Netherlands)
Fourth official:
Kristinn Jakobsson (Iceland)
Reserve assistant referee:
Dimitrios Bozatzidis (Greece)

### Germany vs Poland

[edit]

8 June 2008 (2008-6-8)

20:45

Germany | 2–0|  Poland

|
|

* Podolski 20', 72'

| Report |

Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt

Attendance: 30,461[4]

Referee: Tom Henning Øvrebø (Norway)

Germany[5]

Poland[5]

|

|  |

|

GK | 1 | Jens Lehmann
RB | 16 | Philipp Lahm
CB | 21 | Christoph Metzelder
CB | 17 | Per Mertesacker
LB | 2 | Marcell Jansen
RM | 4 | Clemens Fritz |  |  56'
CM | 8 | Torsten Frings
CM | 13 | Michael Ballack (c)
LM | 20 | Lukas Podolski
CF | 9 | Mario Gómez |  |  75'
CF | 11 | Miroslav Klose |  |  90+1'
Substitutions:
MF | 7 | Bastian Schweinsteiger |  64' |  56'
MF | 15 | Thomas Hitzlsperger |  |  75'
FW | 22 | Kevin Kurányi |  |  90+1'
Manager:
Joachim Löw
|  |  |

|

GK | 1 | Artur Boruc
RB | 13 | Marcin Wasilewski
CB | 14 | Michał Żewłakow
CB | 6 | Jacek Bąk
LB | 4 | Paweł Golański |  |  75'
CM | 5 | Dariusz Dudka
CM | 18 | Mariusz Lewandowski |  60'
RW | 17 | Wojciech Łobodziński |  |  65'
AM | 9 | Maciej Żurawski (c) |  |  46'
LW | 8 | Jacek Krzynówek
CF | 7 | Ebi Smolarek |  40'
Substitutions:
MF | 20 | Roger Guerreiro |  |  46'
MF | 16 | Łukasz Piszczek |  |  65'
FW | 11 | Marek Saganowski |  |  75'
Manager:
Leo Beenhakker

Man of the Match:
Lukas Podolski (Germany)[4]

Assistant referees:[5][3]
Geir Åge Holen (Norway)
Jan Petter Randen (Norway)
Fourth official:
Craig Thomson (Scotland)
Reserve assistant referee:
Dimitrios Saraidaris (Greece)

### Croatia vs Germany

[edit]

12 June 2008 (2008-6-12)

18:00

Croatia | 2–1|  Germany

|
|

* Srna 24'
* Olić 62'

| Report |

* Podolski 79'

Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt

Attendance: 30,461[6]

Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)

Croatia[7]

Germany[7]

|

|  |

|

GK | 1 | Stipe Pletikosa
RB | 5 | Vedran Ćorluka
CB | 4 | Robert Kovač
CB | 3 | Josip Šimunić |  45+1'
LB | 22 | Danijel Pranjić
RM | 11 | Darijo Srna |  27' |  80'
CM | 14 | Luka Modrić |  90+3'
CM | 10 | Niko Kovač (c)
LM | 7 | Ivan Rakitić
SS | 19 | Niko Kranjčar |  |  85'
CF | 18 | Ivica Olić |  |  72'
Substitutions:
FW | 21 | Mladen Petrić |  |  72'
MF | 16 | Jerko Leko |  90+2' |  80'
DF | 15 | Dario Knežević |  |  85'
Manager:
Slaven Bilić
|  |  |

|

GK | 1 | Jens Lehmann |  90+2'
RB | 16 | Philipp Lahm
CB | 21 | Christoph Metzelder
CB | 17 | Per Mertesacker
LB | 2 | Marcell Jansen |  |  46'
RM | 4 | Clemens Fritz |  |  82'
CM | 8 | Torsten Frings
CM | 13 | Michael Ballack (c) |  75'
LM | 20 | Lukas Podolski
CF | 9 | Mario Gómez |  |  66'
CF | 11 | Miroslav Klose
Substitutions:
MF | 19 | David Odonkor |  |  46'
MF | 7 | Bastian Schweinsteiger |  90+2' |  66'
FW | 22 | Kevin Kurányi |  |  82'
Manager:
Joachim Löw

Man of the Match:
Luka Modrić (Croatia)[6]

Assistant referees:[7][3]
Peter Hermans (Belgium)
Alex Verstraeten (Belgium)
Fourth official:
Stéphane Lannoy (France)
Reserve assistant referee:
Matthias Arnet (Switzerland)

### Austria vs Poland

[edit]

12 June 2008 (2008-6-12)

20:45

Austria | 1–1|  Poland

|
|

* Vastić 90+3' (pen.)

| Report |

* Guerreiro 30'

Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna

Attendance: 51,428[8]

Referee: Howard Webb (England)

Austria[9]

Poland[9]

|

|  |

|

GK | 21 | Jürgen Macho
RB | 14 | György Garics
CB | 15 | Sebastian Prödl |  72'
CB | 3 | Martin Stranzl
LB | 4 | Emanuel Pogatetz
DM | 6 | René Aufhauser |  |  74'
RM | 8 | Christoph Leitgeb
CM | 10 | Andreas Ivanschitz (c) |  |  64'
LM | 11 | Ümit Korkmaz |  56'
CF | 20 | Martin Harnik
CF | 9 | Roland Linz |  |  64'
Substitutions:
MF | 7 | Ivica Vastić |  |  64'
FW | 18 | Roman Kienast |  |  64'
MF | 19 | Jürgen Säumel |  |  74'
Manager:
Josef Hickersberger
|  |  |

|

GK | 1 | Artur Boruc
RB | 13 | Marcin Wasilewski |  58'
CB | 2 | Mariusz Jop |  |  46'
CB | 6 | Jacek Bąk (c) |  90+3'
LB | 14 | Michał Żewłakow
RM | 5 | Dariusz Dudka
CM | 18 | Mariusz Lewandowski
LM | 8 | Jacek Krzynówek |  61'
AM | 20 | Roger Guerreiro |  |  85'
CF | 11 | Marek Saganowski |  |  83'
CF | 7 | Ebi Smolarek
Substitutions:
DF | 4 | Paweł Golański |  |  46'
MF | 17 | Wojciech Łobodziński |  |  83'
MF | 19 | Rafał Murawski |  |  85'
Manager:
Leo Beenhakker

Man of the Match:
Roger Guerreiro (Poland)[8]

Assistant referees:[9][3]
Darren Cann (England)
Mike Mullarkey (England)
Fourth official:
Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Reserve assistant referee:
Stéphane Cuhat (Switzerland)

### Poland vs Croatia

[edit]

16 June 2008 (2008-6-16)

20:45

Poland | 0–1|  Croatia

|
|

| Report |

* Klasnić 53'

Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt

Attendance: 30,461[10]

Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece)

Poland[11]

Croatia[11]

|

|  |

|

GK | 1 | Artur Boruc
RB | 13 | Marcin Wasilewski
CB | 14 | Michał Żewłakow (c)
CB | 5 | Dariusz Dudka
LB | 3 | Jakub Wawrzyniak
CM | 19 | Rafał Murawski
CM | 18 | Mariusz Lewandowski |  38' |  46'
RW | 17 | Wojciech Łobodziński |  |  55'
AM | 20 | Roger Guerreiro
LW | 8 | Jacek Krzynówek
CF | 11 | Marek Saganowski |  |  69'
Substitutions:
DF | 23 | Adam Kokoszka |  |  46'
FW | 7 | Ebi Smolarek |  |  55'
FW | 21 | Tomasz Zahorski |  84' |  69'
Manager:
Leo Beenhakker
|  |  |

|

GK | 23 | Vedran Runje
RB | 2 | Dario Šimić (c)
CB | 6 | Hrvoje Vejić |  45'
CB | 15 | Dario Knežević |  |  27'
LB | 22 | Danijel Pranjić
RM | 16 | Jerko Leko
CM | 8 | Ognjen Vukojević |  85'
CM | 13 | Nikola Pokrivač
LM | 7 | Ivan Rakitić
CF | 17 | Ivan Klasnić |  |  74'
CF | 21 | Mladen Petrić |  |  75'
Substitutions:
DF | 5 | Vedran Ćorluka |  |  27'
FW | 9 | Nikola Kalinić |  |  74'
MF | 19 | Niko Kranjčar |  |  75'
Manager:
Slaven Bilić

Man of the Match:
Ivan Klasnić (Croatia)[10]

Assistant referees:[11][3]
Dimitrios Bozatzidis (Greece)
Dimitrios Saraidaris (Greece)
Fourth official:
Olegário Benquerença (Portugal)
Reserve assistant referee:
Alessandro Griselli (Italy)

### Austria vs Germany

[edit]

16 June 2008 (2008-6-16)

20:45

Austria | 0–1|  Germany

|
|

| Report |

* Ballack 49'

Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna

Attendance: 51,428[12]

Referee: Manuel Mejuto González (Spain)

Austria[13]

Germany[13]

|

|  |

|

GK | 21 | Jürgen Macho
RB | 14 | György Garics
CB | 3 | Martin Stranzl |  13'
CB | 17 | Martin Hiden |  |  55'
LB | 4 | Emanuel Pogatetz
CM | 6 | René Aufhauser |  |  63'
CM | 5 | Christian Fuchs
RW | 20 | Martin Harnik |  |  67'
AM | 10 | Andreas Ivanschitz (c) |  48'
LW | 11 | Ümit Korkmaz
CF | 22 | Erwin Hoffer |  31'
Substitutions:
MF | 8 | Christoph Leitgeb |  |  55'
MF | 19 | Jürgen Säumel |  |  63'
FW | 18 | Roman Kienast |  |  67'
Manager:
Josef Hickersberger[note 1]
|  |  |

|

GK | 1 | Jens Lehmann
RB | 3 | Arne Friedrich
CB | 17 | Per Mertesacker
CB | 21 | Christoph Metzelder
LB | 16 | Philipp Lahm
RM | 4 | Clemens Fritz |  |  90+3'
CM | 8 | Torsten Frings
CM | 13 | Michael Ballack (c)
LM | 20 | Lukas Podolski |  |  83'
CF | 9 | Mario Gómez |  |  60'
CF | 11 | Miroslav Klose
Substitutions:
MF | 15 | Thomas Hitzlsperger |  |  60'
FW | 10 | Oliver Neuville |  |  83'
MF | 18 | Tim Borowski |  |  90+3'
Manager:
Joachim Löw[note 1]

Man of the Match:
Michael Ballack (Germany)[12]

Assistant referees:[13][3]
Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (Spain)
Jesús Calvo Guadamuro (Spain)
Fourth official:
Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
Reserve assistant referee:
Paolo Calcagno (Italy)

## See also

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

1. ^ a b Both Hickersberger and Löw were expelled by the referee in the 41st minute.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Full-time report Austria-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
2. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group B – Austria-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
3. ^ a b c d e f "Reserve officials – EURO 2008". UEFA. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
4. ^ a b "Full-time report Germany-Poland" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
5. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group B – Germany-Poland" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 8 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
6. ^ a b "Full-time report Croatia-Germany" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
7. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group B – Croatia-Germany" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
8. ^ a b "Full-time report Austria-Poland" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
9. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group B – Austria-Poland" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
10. ^ a b "Full-time report Poland-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
11. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group B – Poland-Croatia" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
12. ^ a b "Full-time report Austria-Germany" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
13. ^ a b c "Team Line-ups – Group B – Austria-Germany" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2012.

## External links

[edit]

* UEFA Euro 2008 Group B

* v
* t
* e

UEFA Euro 2008

Stages|

* Qualification
* Group stage
* Group A
* Group B
* Group C
* Group D
* Knockout stage
* Final

General information|

* Bids
* Scotland–Ireland
* Broadcasting
* Squads
* Statistics

Official symbols|

* Europass (ball)
* Trix and Flix (mascot)
* UEFA Euro 2008 (video game)
* "Can You Hear Me" (song)

* v
* t
* e

UEFA Euro 2008 finalists

Champions|

Spain

Runners-up|

Germany

Eliminated in the semi-finals|

* Russia
* Turkey

Eliminated in the quarter-finals|

* Croatia
* Italy
* Netherlands
* Portugal

Eliminated in the group stage|

| Group A|

* Czech Republic
* Switzerland

|

Group B|

* Austria
* Poland

Group C|

* France
* Romania

Group D|

* Greece
* Sweden

*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template