Euro 2008
2008-06-08 - Austria vs Croatia
A Sports Betting Pick by Gooner
UEFA Euro 2008 - Group B
Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna
Sunday 8th June 2008 - KO 17:00
AUSTRIA
It is not easy supporting Austria at the moment.
After a run of one win in ten games, Josef Hickersberger's side finally seemed to have turned the corner when they raced into a 3-0 lead against the Netherlands on 26 March.
But the Oranje regrouped, hit four unanswered goals and left a stunned Ernst-Happel-Stadion shock 4-3 winners to have Hickersberger's critics baying for blood.
Austria have put a big investment into the youth teams at U20 and U21 level and Hickersberger has included young players Sebastian Prodl and Martin Harnik into the squad ahead of more senior players.
RESULTS IN LAST 12 MONTHS (all friendly)
22/08/2007 Wien Czech Republic D 1-1
07/09/2007 Klagenfurt Japan D 0-0
11/09/2007 Wien Chile L 0-2
13/10/2007 Zürich Switzerland L 1-3
17/10/2007 Innsbruck Ivory Coast W 3-2
16/11/2007 Wien England L 0-1
21/11/2007 Wien Tunisia D 0-0
06/02/2008 Wien Germany L 0-3
26/03/2008 Wien Netherlands L 3-4
CROATIA
Winning their qualifying group in dramatic style, coach Slaven Bilic has made good use of emerging talent, with the likes of Eduardo da Silva, Luka Modric and Vedran Corluka all proving their worth.
Bilic has stopped using Croatia's traditional 3-5-2 formation and introducing a more rigid 4-4-2 in its place with Niko Kovac usually and the exciting Modric running the midfield.
Up front, Croatia relied a lot on naturalised Brazilian Eduardo but a horror injury means that the team will be without the Arsenal striker.
Ivica Olic is likely to play alongside Mladen Petric at the finals, but Igor Budan, youngster Nikola Kalinic and Ivan Klasnic will be eager for action too.
RESULTS IN LAST 12 MONTHS
08.09.2007 Zagreb H v Estonia W 2-0 ECh (Q)
12.09.2007 Andorra A v Andorra W 0-6 ECh (Q)
13.10.2007 Zagreb H v Israel W 1-0 ECh (Q)
16.10.2007 Rijeka H v Slovakia W 3-0 Friendly
17.11.2007 Skopje A v Macedonia L 2-0 ECh (Q)
21.11.2007 London A v England W 2-3 ECh (Q)
06.02.2008 Split H v Netherlands L 0-3 Friendly
26.03.2008 Glasgow A v Scotland D 1-1 Friendly
HEAD TO HEAD
Croatia last faced Austria in May 2006, when they won a friendly match here in Vienna by a comfortable 4-1 scoreline.
These two sides have faced each other just 3 times, all since 2000, with Croatia winning them all.
THE VERDICT
I have to agree with the bookmakers who have made Croatia as solid favourites for this match, althougth it may be by the only goal of the match.
Austria might find a way to surprise and earn a draw - but it would be a shock if they won - even with home advantage.
The Pick :
Austria 0-1 Croatia
