Croatia avoids Portugal in last 8

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-14  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

ALL is going according to Croatia's dream plans: it secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the European Championships by shocking favorite Germany, and avoided playing Portugal in the last eight of the 16-nation tournament.

Now, Croatia coach Slaven Bilic is no longer hiding his ambitions.

"The title? Why not," he said after his team beat three-time champion Germany 2-1 on Thursday in what is the tournament's biggest upset so far.

Darijo Srna gave Croatia a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute, sweeping the ball past goalkeeper Jens Lehmann on Danijel Pranjic's left-wing cross. The Croats then closed ranks in defense to launch counterattacks, which paid off when Ivica Olic scored on a rebound from the post in the 63rd.

Germany midfielder Lukas Podolski managed to pull a goal back in the 79th, but the three-time champion never looked like earning a draw.

After a 1-1 draw between co-host Austria and Poland in the other Group B match, Croatia will play Poland next Monday in a game that has no meaning for the Balkan team.

But Germany needs at least a draw with Austria to qualify for the quarterfinals as the group's second-placed finisher.

Because of the results, Croatia had avoided playing the Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal in the last eight, and will face either the Czech Republic or Turkey in the quarterfinals.

"The Czechs would suit us just fine," Croatia midfielder Luka Modric said. "But, it really doesn't matter who we play if we perform like against Germany."

Led by Modric's superior passing skills, the Croatian midfield controlled the match against the Germans, allowing them few chances and driving their attackers to despair.

"We really played a phenomenal match. We showed our strength against the mighty Germany," said Modric, who at the final whistle collapsed to the grass before hugging his teammates and Bilic.

The defeat was a chastening experience but Germany coach Joachim Loew said he was confident his team could correct their mistakes.

"In the last two or three years the team has always bounced back from setbacks," Loew said. "We've proved we have character and the ability to bounce back. Now we've got to show that we're a team that can make things happen in such an important match as the next one."

The night ended on a sour note for the Germans when substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger was red carded and will miss the crucial match against the Austrian.