EURO 2008 INFO

The co-hosts Austria, which takes 18 years without achieving a victory in a final phase, was desperate to start well in Group B of this Uefa Euro 2008 ™, but despite all their efforts, the class made Luka Modrić Croatia will take all three points in Vienna.

Emerging Star
The front page of the newspaper of the euro in Austria said: Heute must ihr Siege (Today we must win). The press has tried to do everything possible to find a reason for hope. The slightly partial Hans Krankl made a tactical analysis favourable. The wife of Croatian Ivica Vastic said the horoscope apparently aimed at the victory of Austria. But while the stars were in his favor, which was not counted with the presence of Modrić.

Absence of Eduardo
When they sounded the national anthems, was installed in the vast fans Croatian replete with a large banner with one word: Eduardo. The Arsenal FC striker, scored ten goals in the qualifying round, but stayed away from the final stage after suffering a serious injury in February. The question was how much he would miss the team Slaven Bilić, but the presence of a player as Modrić helps bring this absence. The player, signed by Tottenham Hotspur FC by 21 million euros shortly before the Uefa Euro 2008 ™, has not slow to show why it has been compared to Johan Cruyff.

Changing roles
With only three minutes of play, the little'14 'Stranz met with Martin on the left side of the area and the ball ended up in Ivica Olić, who was shot down by Rene Aufhauser. Modrić not found and marked, becoming the fastest team that scores a maximum penalty in a European Championship Uefa. For Austria, was not the best way to start when looking for his first major victory in a final stage since the U.S. defeat in the Fifa World Cup 1990. However, things came together, but did not take the co-hosts in gain possession of the ball. Now the role of Modrić changed, had a role more containment, but trying to get back an initiative that almost never recover.

Frantic final
The local selector Josef Hickersberger needed to do something, and introduced on the pitch to Vastic, who received a sound ovasión of the two hobbies in the Ernst-Happel-Stadion. The story seemed written: Croatian birth of this country marked the day before his birthday. We tried a couple of times, but both met with a successful Stipe Pletikosa. The end was frantic, but things did not change and Croatia, thanks to both Modrić, begins in the manner dreamed.