Germany will clash Portugal in quarter-final
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Michael Ballack's thunderbolt free-kick from 25 meters gave Germany a 1-0 victory over co-hosts Austria and sent them through to the quarter-finals.
The Germans progress to the knockout stages as runners-up from Group B and will confront Group A winners Portugal, while the hosts are out from the competition, followed their co-hosts Switzerland in failing to progress from the group phase.
Austria needed to win to keep their hopes alive while Germany needed at least a point to stay in the competition.
Austria gave the Germans a few nervous moments in the first half as the Austrian created several chances, but the lack of a ability to convert moves into goal was the main reason a spirited and energetic team failed to progress to the quarter-final.
Germany made them pay on four minutes into the second half when Andreas Ivanschitz fouled Philipp Lahm.
Ballack stepped up and produced the only moment of real class in the match, from around 25 meters, he blasted the free-kick past the wall past Austrian keeper Jürgen Macho into the top corner.
When in doubt, the Germans can always turn to their skipper Ballack.
Merely the most notable action of the match was when referee Manuel Mejuto of Spain sent both coaches, Josef Hickersberger of Austria and his German counterpart Joachim Löw, into the stands after a fierce argument just before halftime.
With both men arguing with the fourth official, the referee was forced to send both coaches to the stands for the rest of the match.
Three-time champions Germany will now face Group A winners Portugal in the quarter-finals, and Austria finished in third place above Poland in Group B.
Austria: 21-Jürgen Macho; 14-György Garics, 3-Martin Stranzl, 17-Martin Hiden (8-Christoph Leitgeb 55), 4-Emanuel Pogatetz; 20-Martin Harnik (18-Roman Kienast 67), 6-René Aufhauser (19-Jürgen Säumel 63), 10-Andreas Ivanschitz, 5-Christian Fuchs, 11-Ümit Korkmaz; 22-Erwin Hoffer
Germany: 1-Jens Lehmann; 3-Arne Friedrich, 17-Per Mertesacker, 21-Christoph Metzelder, 16-Philipp Lahm; 4-Clemens Fritz (18-Tim Borowski 90+2), 8-Torsten Frings, 13-Michael Ballack, 20-Lukas Podolski (10-Oliver Neuville 83); 9-Mario Gómez (15-Thomas Hitzlsperger 60), 11-Miroslav Klose
Referee: Manuel Mejuto (Spain)
Statistics:
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The Germans progress to the knockout stages as runners-up from Group B and will confront Group A winners Portugal, while the hosts are out from the competition, followed their co-hosts Switzerland in failing to progress from the group phase.
Austria needed to win to keep their hopes alive while Germany needed at least a point to stay in the competition.
Austria gave the Germans a few nervous moments in the first half as the Austrian created several chances, but the lack of a ability to convert moves into goal was the main reason a spirited and energetic team failed to progress to the quarter-final.
Germany made them pay on four minutes into the second half when Andreas Ivanschitz fouled Philipp Lahm.
Ballack stepped up and produced the only moment of real class in the match, from around 25 meters, he blasted the free-kick past the wall past Austrian keeper Jürgen Macho into the top corner.
When in doubt, the Germans can always turn to their skipper Ballack.
Merely the most notable action of the match was when referee Manuel Mejuto of Spain sent both coaches, Josef Hickersberger of Austria and his German counterpart Joachim Löw, into the stands after a fierce argument just before halftime.
With both men arguing with the fourth official, the referee was forced to send both coaches to the stands for the rest of the match.
Three-time champions Germany will now face Group A winners Portugal in the quarter-finals, and Austria finished in third place above Poland in Group B.
| Austria |  | 0 - 1 |  | Germany |
| Michael Ballack 49 |
Austria: 21-Jürgen Macho; 14-György Garics, 3-Martin Stranzl, 17-Martin Hiden (8-Christoph Leitgeb 55), 4-Emanuel Pogatetz; 20-Martin Harnik (18-Roman Kienast 67), 6-René Aufhauser (19-Jürgen Säumel 63), 10-Andreas Ivanschitz, 5-Christian Fuchs, 11-Ümit Korkmaz; 22-Erwin Hoffer
Germany: 1-Jens Lehmann; 3-Arne Friedrich, 17-Per Mertesacker, 21-Christoph Metzelder, 16-Philipp Lahm; 4-Clemens Fritz (18-Tim Borowski 90+2), 8-Torsten Frings, 13-Michael Ballack, 20-Lukas Podolski (10-Oliver Neuville 83); 9-Mario Gómez (15-Thomas Hitzlsperger 60), 11-Miroslav Klose
Referee: Manuel Mejuto (Spain)
Statistics:
| Shots on target : | 3 | - | 8 |
| Shots off target : | 6 | - | 9 |
| Ball possession (%) : | 48 | - | 52 |
| Corner kicks : | 8 | - | 6 |
| Offsides : | 0 | - | 2 |
| Fouls : | 22 | - | 11 |
| Yellow cards : | 3 | - | 0 |
| Red cards : | 0 | - | 0 |
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