Set-back for the German national team! With the Werder Bremen back in the starting selection once again, the DFB eleven lost their second European Championships group game 2:1 (1:0) to Croatia in Klagenfurt.
Set-back for the German national team! With the Werder Bremen back in the starting selection once again, the DFB eleven lost their second European Championships group game 2:1 (1:0) to Croatia in Klagenfurt.
Set-back for the German national team! With the Werder Bremen back in the starting selection once again, the DFB eleven lost their second European Championships group game 2:1 (1:0) to Croatia in Klagenfurt. Darijo Srna and Ivica Olic were on target for the Croatians whilst Lukas Podolski was again on target for Germany, but it was to prove too little, too late. Not even the best efforts of Per Mertesacker, Torsten Frings and Clemens Fritz could help the German team avoid putting on a performance which proved a shadow of that which they displayed so clearly against Poland in the opening game.
Mertesacker was twice left an onlooker as Darija Srna and Ivica Olic gave Croatia a 2:0 lead. Frings put himself about as always but could do little to help his colleagues find a way past a tightly packed defence whilst making too many mistakes themselves. Fritz started on the right flank but was switched to right full-back after the break and failed to repeat his impressive performance against Poland. As against Austria, Ivan Klasnic wasn’t selected by trainer Slaven Bilic on this occasion either.
With the win against Germany, along with the 1:1 draw between Austria and Poland later in the evening, Croatia are now guaranteed top spot in Group B whilst Germany will have to battle to make second place against a determined Austrian side on Monday.
