EURO 2008 Preview: Austria vs. Germany

Germany will be favorites to qualify to the last eight of EURO 2008 when they take on co-hosts Austria on Monday in Group B.<br>

كتب : Omar Abdul-Aziz

الإثنين، 16 يونيو 2008 - 13:06
Germany will be favorites to qualify to the last eight of EURO 2008 when they take on co-hosts Austria on Monday in Group B.

Croatia have already guaranteed first place after two victories over Austria and Germany and now both sides battle to squeeze into quarter-finals.

Germany have three points and a draw with the co-hosts will be sufficient to advance.

Head-to-head:

Austria win: 8

Germany win: 21

Draw: 5

Austria

"We're in excellent shape. We're better than we were in February and we have a decent chance. This is the biggest match of my life and it will be the biggest match of all time if we win," said Josef Hickersberger.

Team News: Key defender Sebastian Prodl is suspended as Martin Hiden is ready to take his place.

Probable Line-up: Macho- Stranzl, Pogatetz, Hiden, Garics- Ivanschitz, Aufhauser, Korkmaz, Leitgeb- Linz, Harnik.

Germany

"Thirty million people will be watching in Germany and we have to win for them and for our nation," said Joachim Loew.

"The match against Croatia is a thing of the past. We'll have to push to the limit because Austria have improved in the last few weeks and months. They're a team of fighters but we will go the extra mile."

Team News: The in-form Lukas Podolski will shake off an ankle injury, while Philipp Lahm is also fit after a calf problem.

However, Marcel Jansen is expected to miss out with a shoulder injury, while Bastian Schweinsteiger is suspended.

Probable Line-up: Lehmann- Lahm, Fritz, Metzelder, Mertesacker- Ballack, Frings, Odonkor, Podolski- Klose, Gomez.