# UEFA Euro 2008 Group B

Group B of UEFA Euro 2008 was played from 8 to 16 June 2008. All six of the group's matches were played at venues in Austria, in Vienna and Klagenfurt. The group was made up of four central European nations; co-hosts Austria, as well as Croatia, Germany and Poland. Austria and Poland were appearing in a European Championship finals for the first time.
Croatia became the first team from the group to qualify for the quarter-finals after following up a 1–0 victory against Austria in their first match with a 2–1 win over Germany. This, in conjunction with Austria's 1–1 draw with Poland, meant that Croatia finish top of Group B. The second quarter-final berth was decided by the group's final matches, with Germany defeating Austria through a Michael Ballack free kick, making the result of the Poland vs. Croatia match irrelevant. Had Germany lost, Poland could still have qualified with a win over Croatia. However, a goal from Ivan Klasnić won the game for Croatia, making the Croatians the first team to gain maximum points in the group stage.

## Teams

| Draw position | Team | Pot | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Last appearance | Previous best performance | UEFA Rankings | UEFA Rankings | FIFA Rankings June 2008 |
| Draw position | Team | Pot | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Last appearance | Previous best performance | November 2007 | May 2008 | FIFA Rankings June 2008 |
| B1 | Austria | 1 | Co-host | 12 December 2002 | 1st | — | Debut | 27 | 29 | 92 |
| B2 | Croatia | 2 | Group E winner | 17 November 2007 | 3rd | 2004 | Quarter-finals (1996) | 2 | 11 | 15 |
| B3 | Germany | 3 | Group D runner-up | 13 October 2007 | 10th | 2004 | Winners (1972, 1980, 1996) | 7 | 4 | 5 |
| B4 | Poland | 4 | Group A winner | 17 November 2007 | 1st | — | Debut | 12 | 13 | 28 |
Notes
* ↑ The UEFA rankings of November 2007 were used for seeding for the final draw.
* ↑ UEFA unveiled a new ranking system in May 2008 based on results up to November 2007.
* ↑ From 1972 to 1988, Germany competed as West Germany.

## Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Croatia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Germany | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Austria (H) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 1 | |
| 4 | Poland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 1 | |
* 1 2 Tied on head-to-head result (Austria 1–1 Poland). Overall goal difference was used as the tiebreaker.
In the quarter-finals,
* The winner of Group B, Croatia, advanced to play the runner-up of Group A, Turkey.
* The runner-up of Group B, Germany, advanced to play the winner of Group A, Portugal.

## Matches
### Austria vs Croatia

| Austria | Croatia |
| GK | 21 | Jürgen Macho |
| CB | 15 | Sebastian Prödl | 68' |
| CB | 3 | Martin Stranzl |
| CB | 4 | Emanuel Pogatetz | 3' |
| DM | 6 | René Aufhauser |
| DM | 19 | Jürgen Säumel | 21' | 61' |
| RM | 2 | Joachim Standfest |
| LM | 12 | Ronald Gërçaliu | | 69' |
| AM | 10 | Andreas Ivanschitz (c) |
| CF | 20 | Martin Harnik |
| CF | 9 | Roland Linz | | 73' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 7 | Ivica Vastić | | 61' |
| MF | 11 | Ümit Korkmaz | | 69' |
| FW | 18 | Roman Kienast | | 73' |
| Manager: ||
| Josef Hickersberger ||
| GK | 1 | Stipe Pletikosa |
| RB | 5 | Vedran Ćorluka |
| CB | 4 | Robert Kovač | 51' |
| CB | 3 | Josip Šimunić |
| LB | 22 | Danijel Pranjić |
| RM | 11 | Darijo Srna |
| CM | 10 | Niko Kovač (c) |
| CM | 14 | Luka Modrić |
| LM | 19 | Niko Kranjčar | | 61' |
| CF | 18 | Ivica Olić | | 83' |
| CF | 21 | Mladen Petrić | | 72' |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 15 | Dario Knežević | | 61' |
| FW | 20 | Igor Budan | | 72' |
| MF | 8 | Ognjen Vukojević | | 83' |
| Manager: ||
| Slaven Bilić ||
* Man of the Match:
* Stipe Pletikosa (Croatia)
* Assistant referees:
* Adriaan Inia (Netherlands)
* Hans ten Hoove (Netherlands)
* Fourth official:
* Kristinn Jakobsson (Iceland)
* Reserve assistant referee:
* Dimitrios Bozatzidis (Greece)

### Germany vs Poland

| Germany | Poland |
| GK | 1 | Jens Lehmann |
| RB | 16 | Philipp Lahm |
| CB | 21 | Christoph Metzelder |
| CB | 17 | Per Mertesacker |
| LB | 2 | Marcell Jansen |
| RM | 4 | Clemens Fritz | | 56' |
| CM | 8 | Torsten Frings |
| CM | 13 | Michael Ballack (c) |
| LM | 20 | Lukas Podolski |
| CF | 9 | Mario Gómez | | 75' |
| CF | 11 | Miroslav Klose | | 90+1' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 7 | Bastian Schweinsteiger | 64' | 56' |
| MF | 15 | Thomas Hitzlsperger | | 75' |
| FW | 22 | Kevin Kurányi | | 90+1' |
| Manager: ||
| Joachim Löw ||
| GK | 1 | Artur Boruc |
| RB | 13 | Marcin Wasilewski |
| CB | 14 | Michał Żewłakow |
| CB | 6 | Jacek Bąk |
| LB | 4 | Paweł Golański | | 75' |
| CM | 5 | Dariusz Dudka |
| CM | 18 | Mariusz Lewandowski | 60' |
| RW | 17 | Wojciech Łobodziński | | 65' |
| AM | 9 | Maciej Żurawski (c) | | 46' |
| LW | 8 | Jacek Krzynówek |
| CF | 7 | Ebi Smolarek | 40' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 20 | Roger Guerreiro | | 46' |
| MF | 16 | Łukasz Piszczek | | 65' |
| FW | 11 | Marek Saganowski | | 75' |
| Manager: ||
| Leo Beenhakker ||
* Man of the Match:
* Lukas Podolski (Germany)
* Assistant referees:
* Geir Åge Holen (Norway)
* Jan Petter Randen (Norway)
* Fourth official:
* Craig Thomson (Scotland)
* Reserve assistant referee:
* Dimitrios Saraidaris (Greece)

### Croatia vs Germany

| Croatia | Germany |
| GK | 1 | Stipe Pletikosa |
| RB | 5 | Vedran Ćorluka |
| CB | 4 | Robert Kovač |
| CB | 3 | Josip Šimunić | 45+1' |
| LB | 22 | Danijel Pranjić |
| RM | 11 | Darijo Srna | 27' | 80' |
| CM | 14 | Luka Modrić | 90+3' |
| CM | 10 | Niko Kovač (c) |
| LM | 7 | Ivan Rakitić |
| SS | 19 | Niko Kranjčar | | 85' |
| CF | 18 | Ivica Olić | | 72' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 21 | Mladen Petrić | | 72' |
| MF | 16 | Jerko Leko | 90+2' | 80' |
| DF | 15 | Dario Knežević | | 85' |
| Manager: ||
| Slaven Bilić ||
| GK | 1 | Jens Lehmann | 90+2' |
| RB | 16 | Philipp Lahm |
| CB | 21 | Christoph Metzelder |
| CB | 17 | Per Mertesacker |
| LB | 2 | Marcell Jansen | | 46' |
| RM | 4 | Clemens Fritz | | 82' |
| CM | 8 | Torsten Frings |
| CM | 13 | Michael Ballack (c) | 75' |
| LM | 20 | Lukas Podolski |
| CF | 9 | Mario Gómez | | 66' |
| CF | 11 | Miroslav Klose |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 19 | David Odonkor | | 46' |
| MF | 7 | Bastian Schweinsteiger | 90+2' | 66' |
| FW | 22 | Kevin Kurányi | | 82' |
| Manager: ||
| Joachim Löw ||
* Man of the Match:
* Luka Modrić (Croatia)
* Assistant referees:
* Peter Hermans (Belgium)
* Alex Verstraeten (Belgium)
* Fourth official:
* Stéphane Lannoy (France)
* Reserve assistant referee:
* Matthias Arnet (Switzerland)

### Austria vs Poland

| Austria | Poland |
| GK | 21 | Jürgen Macho |
| RB | 14 | György Garics |
| CB | 15 | Sebastian Prödl | 72' |
| CB | 3 | Martin Stranzl |
| LB | 4 | Emanuel Pogatetz |
| DM | 6 | René Aufhauser | | 74' |
| RM | 8 | Christoph Leitgeb |
| CM | 10 | Andreas Ivanschitz (c) | | 64' |
| LM | 11 | Ümit Korkmaz | 56' |
| CF | 20 | Martin Harnik |
| CF | 9 | Roland Linz | | 64' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 7 | Ivica Vastić | | 64' |
| FW | 18 | Roman Kienast | | 64' |
| MF | 19 | Jürgen Säumel | | 74' |
| Manager: ||
| Josef Hickersberger ||
| GK | 1 | Artur Boruc |
| RB | 13 | Marcin Wasilewski | 58' |
| CB | 2 | Mariusz Jop | | 46' |
| CB | 6 | Jacek Bąk (c) | 90+3' |
| LB | 14 | Michał Żewłakow |
| RM | 5 | Dariusz Dudka |
| CM | 18 | Mariusz Lewandowski |
| LM | 8 | Jacek Krzynówek | 61' |
| AM | 20 | Roger Guerreiro | | 85' |
| CF | 11 | Marek Saganowski | | 83' |
| CF | 7 | Ebi Smolarek |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 4 | Paweł Golański | | 46' |
| MF | 17 | Wojciech Łobodziński | | 83' |
| MF | 19 | Rafał Murawski | | 85' |
| Manager: ||
| Leo Beenhakker ||
* Man of the Match:
* Roger Guerreiro (Poland)
* Assistant referees:
* Darren Cann (England)
* Mike Mullarkey (England)
* Fourth official:
* Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
* Reserve assistant referee:
* Stéphane Cuhat (Switzerland)

### Poland vs Croatia

| Poland | Croatia |
| GK | 1 | Artur Boruc |
| RB | 13 | Marcin Wasilewski |
| CB | 14 | Michał Żewłakow (c) |
| CB | 5 | Dariusz Dudka |
| LB | 3 | Jakub Wawrzyniak |
| CM | 19 | Rafał Murawski |
| CM | 18 | Mariusz Lewandowski | 38' | 46' |
| RW | 17 | Wojciech Łobodziński | | 55' |
| AM | 20 | Roger Guerreiro |
| LW | 8 | Jacek Krzynówek |
| CF | 11 | Marek Saganowski | | 69' |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 23 | Adam Kokoszka | | 46' |
| FW | 7 | Ebi Smolarek | | 55' |
| FW | 21 | Tomasz Zahorski | 84' | 69' |
| Manager: ||
| Leo Beenhakker ||
| GK | 23 | Vedran Runje |
| RB | 2 | Dario Šimić (c) |
| CB | 6 | Hrvoje Vejić | 45' |
| CB | 15 | Dario Knežević | | 27' |
| LB | 22 | Danijel Pranjić |
| RM | 16 | Jerko Leko |
| CM | 8 | Ognjen Vukojević | 85' |
| CM | 13 | Nikola Pokrivač |
| LM | 7 | Ivan Rakitić |
| CF | 17 | Ivan Klasnić | | 74' |
| CF | 21 | Mladen Petrić | | 75' |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 5 | Vedran Ćorluka | | 27' |
| FW | 9 | Nikola Kalinić | | 74' |
| MF | 19 | Niko Kranjčar | | 75' |
| Manager: ||
| Slaven Bilić ||
* Man of the Match:
* Ivan Klasnić (Croatia)
* Assistant referees:
* Dimitrios Bozatzidis (Greece)
* Dimitrios Saraidaris (Greece)
* Fourth official:
* Olegário Benquerença (Portugal)
* Reserve assistant referee:
* Alessandro Griselli (Italy)

### Austria vs Germany

| Austria | Germany |
| GK | 21 | Jürgen Macho |
| RB | 14 | György Garics |
| CB | 3 | Martin Stranzl | 13' |
| CB | 17 | Martin Hiden | | 55' |
| LB | 4 | Emanuel Pogatetz |
| CM | 6 | René Aufhauser | | 63' |
| CM | 5 | Christian Fuchs |
| RW | 20 | Martin Harnik | | 67' |
| AM | 10 | Andreas Ivanschitz (c) | 48' |
| LW | 11 | Ümit Korkmaz |
| CF | 22 | Erwin Hoffer | 31' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 8 | Christoph Leitgeb | | 55' |
| MF | 19 | Jürgen Säumel | | 63' |
| FW | 18 | Roman Kienast | | 67' |
| Manager: ||
| Josef Hickersberger ||
| GK | 1 | Jens Lehmann |
| RB | 3 | Arne Friedrich |
| CB | 17 | Per Mertesacker |
| CB | 21 | Christoph Metzelder |
| LB | 16 | Philipp Lahm |
| RM | 4 | Clemens Fritz | 90+3' |
| CM | 8 | Torsten Frings |
| CM | 13 | Michael Ballack (c) |
| LM | 20 | Lukas Podolski | 83' |
| CF | 9 | Mario Gómez | 60' |
| CF | 11 | Miroslav Klose |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 15 | Thomas Hitzlsperger | 60' |
| FW | 10 | Oliver Neuville | 83' |
| MF | 18 | Tim Borowski | 90+3' |
| Manager: ||
| Joachim Löw ||
* Man of the Match:
* Michael Ballack (Germany)
* Assistant referees:
* Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (Spain)
* Jesús Calvo Guadamuro (Spain)
* Fourth official:
* Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
* Reserve assistant referee:
* Paolo Calcagno (Italy)