Germany and Croatia, the two teams tipped before the start of the tournament to progress to the knockout stages of the European championship finals from group B, progressed to the quarterfinals after notching identical 1:0 wins over Austria and Poland, respectively, on June 16.

Much has been made before the match between Germany and Austria of the last time the small Alpine country, co-hosting the tournament, won against their more illustrious neighbours in a major tournament - 3:2 thirty years ago at the World Cup in Argentina.

A repeat of the result of that match in Cordoba always looked unlikely for Austria, rated as rank outsiders by bookmakers before the tournament even started. But having acquitted themselves more than well in their fist two matches, despite a distinct lack of cutting edge in attack, sentiment among the fans of the home side ran high before kick-off.

The match itself proved a less-than-exciting affair. Even though neither team opted for a defensive approach to the game, which often resulted in the action rapidly switching from one box to another without too much patient build-up, the lack of too many clear-cut chances did not add to the entertainment value of the match.

On the rare occasions that attackers found themselves through on goal, neither side took the opportunities they were offered - Mario Gomez for Germany wasted his chance in the fifth minute with the open goal at his mercy, scuffling his shot high from four metres out, while Erwin Hoffer's ball control skills let him down in the 18th minute, when he failed to take advantage of Martin Harnik's cross into the penalty area and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann gratefully smothered the ball.

The most excitement in the first half was provided by the two managers, Josef Hickersberger of Austria and Joachim Loew of Germany, whose constant bickering with the fourth official prompted Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzales to send them off to the stands before half-time.

The only goal of the match was scored from a free kick by German captain Michael Ballack shortly after the restart. Adidas' Europass ball, created for the tournament, has reaped much criticism for being lightweight and changing direction too easily.

Rather than resulting in more spectacular long-range efforts, as predicted before Euro 2008, it has often sailed high above goal, making good free kicks a rarity at this tournament. It seemed not to matter for Ballack, however, whose thumping shot from 25 metres sailed beyond the reach of Austrian goalkeeper Juergen Macho.

Despite massed attacks on the German goal, Austria had few real chances until the end of the game, while Germany wasted several opportunities on counter to put the result beyond any doubt.

In the other tie of the night, Croatia, who had already qualified by winning their first two group games, made short work of the Poles, dominating the match despite fielding a side that had only two of the players that started the previous game against Germany.

Danijel Pranjic and Ivan Rakitic orchestrated the Croatian attacks from midfield and but for the efforts of goalkeeper Artur Boruc, Poland could easily have gone into the break several goals down. As it were, the only goal of the night came in the 52nd minute, when Ivan Klasnic shot across Boruc after a great cross from man-of-the-match Pranjic.

The goal, coupled with the news that filtered down about Germany taking the lead in their game, completely deflated the Poles, while Croatia, with the notable exception of Pranjic, appeared content to roll the ball around in midfield.

Germany, after surprisingly losing to Croatia, took the second spot in group B and will next meet Portugal in the quarterfinal played on June 19, while Croatia will take on Turkey a day later.