Euro 2008 Highlights Day 6: Croatia 2-1 Germany, Austria 1-1 Poland

Croatia 2-1 Germany
Croatia took a firm grip on Group B after a 2-1 win over much-fancied Germany left them strong favourites to qualify for the knock-out stages. Goals from Darijo Srna and Ivica Olic midway through each half secured a second successive group win for Slaven Bilic's side, who are all but assured of their place in the quarter-finals ahead of the final round of group fixtures.

Meanwhile, pre-tournament favourites Germany must now beat Austria in their final game to ensure their own qualification to the last eight. Germany had been expected to follow up their opening 3-0 win over Poland with another dominant performance and coach Joachim Low named an unchanged side.

But Croatia appeared to be reading from a different script as they looked the more dangerous of the two teams throughout after Bilic opted to promote Ivan Rakitic off the bench in a more attack-minded formation. They took the lead following a low-key start as Srna took advantage of hesitation in the German defence to fire his side into a 23rd minute lead.

The attacking midfielder was a late arrival into the penalty area and he ghosted in behind the labouring Marcell Jansen to slide a Danijel Pranjic cross past the helpless Jens Lehmann. Rakitic should have doubled the advantage on the half-hour mark, but he blazed a side-foot shot over the crossbar from 18 yards after being picked out well by Olic's knock down.

Christoph Metzelder could have restored parity on the stroke of half-time, but he managed to head a corner comfortably over the bar after rising above his marker on the edge of the six-yard box.