Austria and Germany met to decide who would advance in the Euro 2008 Championship and who would go home. The experts didn't give Austria a chance—Austria hadn't defeated Germany in dozens of matches. Further, Germany only needed a tie to advance, while Austria needed to outscore Germany.
By the middle of the first half, it was apparent that the experts were wrong. Austria was playing Germany even, and in fact apparently playing with more enthusiasm. The German players seemed to be a bit unfocused and listless.
Both teams had excellent scoring chances. Austrian keeper Jurgen Macho and German keeper Jens Lehmann were tested repeatedly, and came through to keep the game nil–nil.
In a bizarre twist, the referee ejected both head coaches from the game with five minutes left in the half, because of "constant bickering."
Euro 2008 Soccer
Germany Scores
Three minutes into the second half, Germany got a free kick from three yards outside the penalty area. German captain Michael Ballack unloaded a vicious kick that scorched past the outstretched fingers of Jurgen Macho and buried itself deep in the top right corner of the net. Ballack used no finesse, no misdirection, no tricky curve—Ballack fired a straight and simple bazooka blast past Macho to give Germany the lead, and a much needed shot of inspiration.
While Germany seemed ot be playing with a boit more confidence, Austria played with enthusiasm bordering on desperation, and still matched the Germans play-for-play.
Austria kept pressing; though they needed two goals to advance and had scored none, they never lost heart or let up. But in the end, Germany triumphed, advancing in the Championship, while Austria's Championship is over.
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