Flash Forward

Alright, so today I am going to try "live blogging", where I will be typing my observations on the games as they happen rather than talking about games that happened 3 days ago.

Group B- Game 3

Winners from the first round of matchups, Germany and Croatia will square off in Klagenfurt with a winner qualifying for the knockout stage.

Woerthersee Stadium, Klagenfurt

Germany and Croatia both come out in the same kits that they wore in the previous match. I expect the Croatian cycling team to have a mountainous time trying to overcome the Germans today.

I've noticed that "Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes has become an unofficial football anthem, much like "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash. When did this happen? And who started it?

During the national anthems its pretty easy to distinguish the Croatian fans from the German ones as the Croats are donned in red and white checkered clothing, seems like an even split.

Germany come out with the same squad that started against Poland, and the only change for Croatia is Rakitic on for Petric.

Here we go:

3 min- Germany has enjoyed the possession majority, but neither team looks comfortable yet.

6 min- Srna takes a knock on the thigh courtesy of Metzelder and stays down for a considerable time...the Croatian medics apply copious amounts of the magical spray and Srna hops back up.

8 min- rakitic swings a cross in from the left but its headed out by the German defense, thats the closest the Croats have come to scoring thus far.

9 min- jansen does the same exact thing for Germany, but they win a corner...cleared away by the team in blue

12 min- srna free kick right of box, cleared out for a Croat throw in deep...cleared out for german counter, Klose couldnt control a pass from Lahm.

16 min- the Croats have some noisy fans as they've provided a nice backdrop for announcers Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth.

17 min- Croatian corner is glanced across the goal but no one is there to put it home.

20 min- this game is getting a bit chippy as the Germans are exerting their physical advantages, but the Croats are starting to push back

22 min- Mario Gomez caught offside..he really looks out of sorts today.

24 min- GOAL!!! Croatia's Dario Srna latches a boot onto a Modric cross in front of Jansen to hit the back of the net..Slaven Bilic celebrates with an air guitar solo.. beautiful build up for the Croats as they had at least 10 passes before the goal.

25 min- how will the Germans respond?

26 min- Jansen tries to make up for his lapse and swings a ball in for Gomez, who heads the ball over the bar another Gomez chance gone begging.

27 min- Srna given a yellow card for chopping down Podolski on the left side of the box. Frings on the ball...hits the wall and out for a deep throw.

28 min- Frings sends a cross in, snapped up by Pleitikosa.

30 min- Krancjar blows a perfect chance to put Croatia up 2-0, but he blazes the ball over the bar after it sits up nicely for him in the box.

33 min- ballack fires a deep free kick but Pleitikosa tips it wide..some energy from the Germans now, as they have a few half-chances in the box.

35 min- Slaven Billic is shown dropping a good luck charm and he kisses it like 23 times when he picks it up....weird.

40 min- Frings takes a corner for Germany and Metzelder couldnt keep it down. The Germans are knocking..

42 min- Lehmann makes a fantastic save after Corluka runs down the right, the ball ends up with Krancjar but Lehmann proves his equal.

43 min- Croatia wins the corner off the save, Srna hits the side netting trying to beat Lehmann near post

45 min- Gomez caught offside for like 5th time this half. if he ever manages to get it right, he will put one in the back of the net for sure.

45 min- Simunic given a yellow for time wasting

HALF TIME- The Srna goal is the only thing that separates these two sides. One of the Germans needs to step up and exude the class that everyone has been talking about. Klose and Podolski have been ghosts. Croatia doesnt look like they are going to let up, I expect a goal or two after the half, from which team remains to be seen.

46 min- Odonkor comes on for Jansen. A smart move by German manager lowe. He needs a more attacking approach on the right, and Jansen was getting worked by the Croatia attack

49 min- Ballack sails a rebound punched to him by Pleitikosa well over the bar.

52 min- Croatia seem happy to wait for a counter attack as Germany has enjoyed the possession in the early goings of this half. Modric rifles a shot from way out, Lehmann has a bit of trouble with it, but manages to hold on.

56 min- I must say that watching football in HD is amazing, you can see every blade of grass and every seam on the ball with clarity. Its gorgeous.

58 min- Croatia are playing well at the back but they are definitely inviting Germany to make something happen.

60 min- Srna takes another knock to the thigh he hurt earlier...I imagine more magical spray is not far behind.

62 min- GOAL!!!! A speculative cross from Srna takes a deflection and catches Lehmann off guard. It bounces off the post to poacher Ivica Olic to put in the net. A shock scoreline 2-0 Croatia.

64 min- Croatia is looking to put this game beyond doubt, Olic wins a corner, Srna takes it but Lehmann is able to punch it wide.

65 min- A logical substitution, a poor Mario Gomez comes off for Bastian Schweinsteiger. Tommy Smyth says that Podolski will go up top with Klose and Schweinsteiger will replace him on the left wing.

68 min- Krancjar wins a free kick right outside the German 18. Srna lines it up, hits the wall.

69 min- Klose takes a weak effort that hits a Croat defender...pretty much sums up the German attack thus far.

70 min- Olic wins a corner, Srna takes it, punched out by Lehmann for another corner

71 min- Srna takes the second corner and it sneaks across the box untouched.

72 min- Goal scorer Olic is coming off for Petric

73 min- Schweinsteiger shoots across the face of goal and it goes wide for a corner. He takes the corner, out for another...cleared

75 min- booking for the German captain Ballack

76 min- Krancjar takes a good shot but Lehmann handles it

77 min- a ball into the box for Klose is cut out behind for a corner

79 min- GOAL!! Podolski puts in his third of the tournament as the Croatia defense failed to seriously avert the danger and Podolski's left footed volley made them pay

81 min- Srna off for Leko

82 min- Fritz off for Kevin Kuranyi... Lehmann has to make a save again after a rasping shot from Krancjar

85 min- Kranjcar off for Knezevic...a defensive substitution

86 min- Germany has thrown everyone forward in desperation, Croatia is threatening another goal through counter attacking.

90 min- 3 minutes of added time

91 min- Lahm almost puts the ball in his own net after a low Modric cross...corner, Croatia just looking for time killing.

92 min- RED CARD!! Schweinsteiger gets caught retaliating against Leko and is sent off. Lehmann and Leko given yellows

93 min- Modric booked for challenge on Frings

FULL TIME

Croatia celebrates a fantastic win over the Germans and they proved that they certainly are no pushovers in this tournament. A win for Austria or a draw between Austria and Poland sees Croatia through as the top team in Group B. A surprise result for sure and Germany will have it all to do against Austria in their last match and will be without hot-headed Schweinsteiger.