- 1 day ago
Croatia beat Romania 1-0 in the Quarter Finals. Germany came from behind to beat Mexico 2-1.
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00:00Same way that Izanicevic got further than Henman, Croatia got further than England.
00:04There's the German team, Jürgen Kohler back in defence, Jeremic in midfield,
00:09no place for Olaf Tone or Andy Moller, and up front, Klinsmann and Bierhoff.
00:14Klinsmann now with 11 goals in World Cup finals matches, just one more and he will equal Pele,
00:20and then only Fontane and Muller ahead of him.
00:23Now then, Croatia, it's the job of Derby's Stimac and Everton's Bilic to keep those two German strikers in check,
00:29Soldo and Stuttgart is back from suspension to help.
00:32Vlajevic is up front to support Schuker, who now has 32 goals in 38 internationals,
00:38an even better striking rate than Klinsmann.
00:40Now then, there are friendly exchanges at the kick-off here, but we have to remember
00:43that two years ago in Euro 96, there was a stormy and volatile quarter-final between these two teams at
00:50Old Trafford,
00:51and Rene Pedersen of Norway, the referee, is charged tonight with making sure that the same thing doesn't happen again,
00:57because there was a sending off, Stimac, Klinsmann got involved in a nasty incident,
01:02he was then injured having put Germany ahead, there were ten yellow cards,
01:07and Croatia equalised and finally lost 2-1, so a bit of history there, Trevor Brookie.
01:13Well, I was at that game, I have to say, I thought Croatia had a chance going into the match,
01:17but as you mentioned, during the game itself, they tried to kick everything but the ball,
01:22and I think they suffered as a result of that, they felt about playing to their own strengths.
01:27I'm pleased to see Vlajevic up front with Schuker, I think that will help them as an attacking force.
01:33Sanovic in midfield having a good tournament so far,
01:36and let's see if they can get at this German team, but Germany have definitely the favourites.
01:41Well, they are, but if Croatia were looking for an omen,
01:44four years ago in New Jersey at this quarter-final stage of the World Cup,
01:48what happened to Germany?
01:49They lost to Bulgaria, 2-1, I'm sure you remember that in the giant stadium,
01:53and if Bulgaria had the likes of two European assistants out there tonight,
02:03and immediately the Germans in possession from the kick-off,
02:07and it's clear from the start that Matthäus will be the sweeper,
02:12and Jürgen Kohler has come back into the side, one of the markers with Wurz.
02:16It's Kohler now.
02:19Tarnat on the left-hand side, here's Oliver Bierhoff,
02:22here straight away is Hessler, Klinsmann makes his way into the penalty area,
02:25and here comes Heinrich, and it needed Jani to step in.
02:29It's a corner to Germany in the first minute.
02:38That brings Jürgen Kohler forward, Hessler will take it.
02:43And Croatia have to watch here, Dieter Hammond is up.
02:51Bierhoff starts his run now.
02:55In goes Klinsmann, the header was by Slavin Bilic.
02:59And Ladic is fouled.
03:02Initially to get in the corner was a good turn by Thomas Hessler,
03:05very experienced man, keeping Muller out the side.
03:07Of course, Bertie Vogt's not wanting to play both of them together.
03:11They do need a supply of Bierhoff and Klinsmann.
03:23Simic coming across.
03:24Goldkeeper has to kick.
03:27Hessler blasts it straight back from 40 yards.
03:33Bright thinking, wasn't it?
03:35Well, you could see Ladic is a right-footer, that's why he sliced it with the outside of his right.
03:40He just panicked for a second until he saw the shot was going wide.
03:45It's a bit closer now.
03:57Hessler, tipping.
03:59But not quite enough.
04:02I've not seen perhaps the usual number of free kicks on target.
04:06Of course, David Beckham's, Sierra we saw, Chilis.
04:10A lot of the players have said the ball is light.
04:12And it's not easy to get over the wall and then bring it down under the crossbar.
04:15That one definitely a curler, but again, never looked as if it was going to dip underneath.
04:23Kola comes forward, they've got Haman in there as well.
04:31And Bierhoff.
04:36Haman!
04:43A real let-off for Croatia.
04:45I think he should have scored, it clears everyone, doesn't it?
04:48Free header, no one was challenging it.
04:50Bierhoff at the near post, occupies two or three players, it clears them all.
04:54And a man behind.
04:57Should have got it on target.
04:59It would make it very interesting, wouldn't it?
05:10Germany were
05:12latecomers against Mexico in their last match.
05:14One down with a quarter of an hour to go, came back to win 2-1, and Bertie Berks has
05:19admitted since that he was already getting ready for penalties.
05:23Typical German thoroughness, they'll be all geared up for that, should it happen.
05:26Here's Matthias, Heinrich, Bierhoff and Klintz.
05:30Bierhoff!
05:31Klintzman coming in for the rebound, and Laddick scrambled it away.
05:35Oliver Bierhoff shows his menace in the air again.
05:38There's a great cross from Heinrich.
05:40It could have been England, but it's not, it's Croatia, and they're holding the Germans.
05:47Literally at times.
05:51Asanovic is having a long look at it, he's got Jarny with him.
05:59Wants the wall further back, Asanovic.
06:01Here he comes now.
06:09Wasn't necessarily one that favoured the left foot.
06:11I mean, he hit it decent enough, but it was such a long way out, a bit higher than Kupka.
06:15Just ended up jogging across.
06:17Between two Croatians here.
06:20They're aiming at Bierhoff, Germany.
06:28Only once, as the concentration of those defenders wavered.
06:32Oh, and that's Werns on Schuke.
06:34And now what happens here?
06:39Protesting his innocence, but there'll be a card.
06:41It's red!
06:42Christian Werns off.
06:44Five minutes before half-time, the Germans are down to ten.
06:48Kohler seems to be telling the referee that his assistant may have been flagging earlier for something else,
06:53but there's a sending off here.
06:54Germany have lost a man.
06:57Werns has the red card shown.
07:01And holds his head in disbelief.
07:07Prinsman joining the protests.
07:13Well, I'm not so sure that's a sending off offence, Trevor Brookings.
07:17Well, it's definitely a yellow card.
07:18I mean, it was a mistimed challenge.
07:21Werns tried to pull out, but I mean, it's a bad decision, I think.
07:24There's a little sideshow going on here,
07:26because the Germans are saying that the assistant referee on the far side from Belgium
07:29was flagging earlier.
07:31And they're saying to the referee,
07:33will you go over and ask?
07:35Matthias, in fact, has gone all the way over to the Belgian linesman
07:37to tell him to attract the referee's attention.
07:41And whether he was flagging for an offside,
07:43it might have preceded that collision, I'm not sure.
07:47But Matthias is coming all the way back.
07:48So it's all happening out of your picture.
07:50Schuchert, who you can see, has recovered, it would seem.
07:54And there goes poor Christian Burns,
07:57sent off in the quarterfinal,
07:59will definitely miss the semi.
08:08And when the whistle goes,
08:09I really believe there are going to be some protests.
08:12This is Stanich.
08:19Now Yarny.
08:21Good effort.
08:22It's there.
08:23The race has scored.
08:24It's Yarny.
08:27Right on half-time.
08:30They've got a man-over,
08:31and now they're a goal up.
08:35And Robert Yarny,
08:37who played for the former Yugoslavia in the 1990 World Cup,
08:41now makes his name playing for Croatia
08:43in the quarterfinals in 1998.
08:48Stanich set the play up on the right.
08:51It came across to Yarny,
08:52and from outside the area,
08:53he beats the diving Kyrkic.
08:56Well, Stanich misplaced his pass.
08:59It ended up at Yarny.
09:00It was a good strike on his left foot.
09:03And you can see halfway there,
09:04he suddenly realises
09:05that's going in absolute pandemonium in the ground.
09:09Croatian supporters going mad,
09:11and the bench, everyone erupted off it.
09:13And, well,
09:14what a transformation in this game,
09:15the last 10 minutes.
09:17The goal was timed at 47 minutes, 30 seconds.
09:21Is it a goal that's going to precipitate
09:24one of the shocks of the World Cup?
09:25Put the Germans down to 10 men, remember,
09:28be going out here.
09:29They're one down at half-time,
09:31and there are some angry looks at the referee
09:33as he collects the ball,
09:34and Rotar Matthias is going up to the referee,
09:37and Kohler is going up to the linesman.
09:39And out of your picture,
09:40there's all sorts going on.
09:42The two officials are being berated
09:44by Kohler and Matthias
09:45on the far side of the field,
09:47and unless they're careful,
09:48one of them could get a card
09:49for overindulging at half-time in argument.
09:52The referee is sending them both away,
09:54and Matthias is reluctant to go,
09:58but he has moved off,
09:59and 30 votes holds his head in his hands.
10:02Germany are a goal behind,
10:04they're a man short,
10:05and we could be on the edge
10:06of quite a surprise here in Lyon.
10:10All revolving around Rune Pedersen,
10:12the Norwegian referee,
10:13who sent off Werns,
10:14and the half-time score,
10:16Croatia 1,
10:18Germany 0.
10:19Well, they're not winning here,
10:21and Jürgen Klinsmann is in long conversation
10:23with the referee before the kick-on.
10:24Mr. Pedersen has had
10:27plenty of German viewers expressed to him
10:29since he sent Christian Werns off.
10:32So, Croatia,
10:33leading by Jani's goal,
10:34playing now from left to right.
10:39Can they keep the lead
10:41and achieve what would surely be
10:43the biggest shock of the World Cup?
10:48There's Boban.
10:56Quite a strange twist in the story
10:59when you think that two years ago
11:00at Old Trappard,
11:01Croatia played with ten men
11:03and were eventually beaten 2-1 by Germany.
11:08There's Stimac.
11:15Schuker.
11:15Jani's on the run again,
11:17but so too is Vlajevic here.
11:19And he shook off Kohler,
11:20and Vlajevic is only foiled,
11:22really, by Kupke,
11:23taking a risk which came off for him.
11:27That was vital, Kupke.
11:28He made contact with the ball.
11:30He's almost a defensive sliding tackle
11:32with the feet,
11:32but he did get possession.
11:34You can see Klinsmann playing much deeper.
11:37They've decided to...
11:38Hessler is the closer man to Bierhoff,
11:40and still got Hamann as right wing back
11:41and Heinrich as one of the central defenders.
11:46Well, that was the little shove
11:48on Vlajevic in the first place.
11:49Then he turned Kohler.
11:50Look at this.
11:51If he'd got that wrong by a fraction, Kupke.
11:53But at the other end,
11:54it's Jeremis,
11:55and he's got support in the middle
11:56from Klinsmann.
11:59Jeremis again.
12:00And Klinsmann can't get a touch,
12:02but now perhaps he can.
12:03No, he can't.
12:03It's Vlajevic.
12:07Stanic.
12:10Oban.
12:10Oh, good play.
12:11Strange passes with Soldo
12:12and then found Yarny.
12:15Now, Soldo down the centre.
12:17Number 14.
12:23Asanovic.
12:25Well, it's an open invitation here to Croatia
12:28to make the extra man tell.
12:30Stanic.
12:32Vlajevic to his left.
12:34Stanic going himself.
12:37Boban out to Shuker.
12:40Three waiting in the centre here for Croatia.
12:43Shuker's cross is too high for Stanic.
12:46Yarny again.
12:47Boban.
12:53It's going to be an exciting second half.
12:55You can already see the openings beginning
12:57at both ends.
12:59Boban.
12:59Look at the toe ender.
13:11Klinsmann's up.
13:12Bierhoff's there.
13:13What a phenomenal save.
13:16Bierhoff appeals it across the line.
13:17I don't think it did.
13:20It looked like a stunning piece of goalkeeping.
13:23I don't think it crossed the line.
13:24It was a fantastic save.
13:25I mean, great corner.
13:28Touch at the near post by Klinsmann.
13:29A volley by Bierhoff.
13:30I expected to see the net bulge.
13:32Great save to his left.
13:35Play on there.
13:36This is the referee.
13:37It's Croatia who break now.
13:39What a match we've got here in Lyon.
13:41And Bilic tries to get Shuker through.
13:43And Vlajevic is on this side of the pitch.
13:45And Mateusz goes diving in now.
13:47That's another free kick to Croatia.
13:50There isn't really time for the stadium to catch its breath and debate what happened at the other end.
13:56But this is the answer.
13:57Bierhoff volley.
13:58Latic.
13:59The sheer power you thought would carry it over the line.
14:01But he checked it out.
14:02There's no question of that.
14:04And now we have a dangerous position at the other end.
14:07Because.
14:12Oh, here's Boban.
14:22Bilic has made a run from the back.
14:24The Germans didn't pick him up.
14:25And on this side here's Stanic.
14:30Oh, and there's the ball in.
14:31Oh, and how did Shuker miss?
14:35Oh, he's asking himself the same question.
14:38Probably because it was on his right foot.
14:39I think it's just behind him.
14:41I mean, he should still get it on target.
14:43He was just behind him.
14:47Mateusz.
14:48Good running by Hessler.
14:50They lost him for a moment there, Croatia.
14:52Jani wasn't back in that position.
14:53And they forced a corner.
14:57Great ball for Mateusz.
14:58He's playing in midfield now.
14:59They're just playing.
15:01Just two at the back now.
15:02Heinrich and Kola.
15:04And Hassler's making those little runs.
15:06Germans still pressing forward.
15:07Yes, they are.
15:08Jürgen Kola's up for the corner.
15:10So is Heinrich.
15:15Oh, they both missed it.
15:16It's come out to Tarnat.
15:18And he didn't miss by much.
15:22He doesn't hold back with that left foot of his, does he?
15:24It wasn't an easy one to hit.
15:27Similar distance from which Jani hit his.
15:30But Tarnat hit it on the volley.
15:32And to his credit.
15:34Ledic was there.
15:35Probably he's got to be one of the heroes at present.
15:38And Soldo.
15:42He makes the first run, Soldo.
15:45Villic is in there.
15:46So is Stanic.
15:47Oh.
15:48Just away by Bierhoff.
15:50There's Stimatz.
15:53Oh, he got that down.
15:55Awfully well.
15:56Oh, what a fine save by Koppke.
15:59From Boban.
16:02Oh, this was class football.
16:05There was a ricochet there.
16:07Could have ended up anywhere.
16:08Looked as if the danger of being cleared.
16:09And then Boban picks it up.
16:11That was a wonderful save.
16:12Vital.
16:14It had to be.
16:14Otherwise Germany could have been on their way up for sure.
16:19So three to aim for up front now for Germany.
16:22And Mateus tries to pick out Kirsten on the far side.
16:29Asanovic.
16:30Oh, there's a break on here.
16:31Three against two for Croatia.
16:33That was Villic who saw a gap.
16:34And Vlajevic is outside him here for Croatia.
16:37Vlajevic.
16:38Vlajevic.
16:39Scholls swinging away.
16:42Well set up by Schloven Villic.
16:45We should see that more and more now.
16:47Germans must be beginning to tie with the man short.
16:50Once they make those interceptions.
16:52They had three against two.
16:54Blintz-Bernst was sent off before half time.
17:00Schuker.
17:02Here's Asanovic.
17:04Back again to Schuker.
17:05Vlajevic has gone near post.
17:07Schuker checks.
17:08And sets up.
17:09Boban.
17:10Oh, he should have done better.
17:15Well, we've seen far, far better than that from Boban for AC Milan.
17:20Just getting into the stage of the game where you think, well, the Croatian perhaps should have got that second
17:25goal.
17:25Are they going to be punished?
17:27A bit like the Germans in the first half.
17:31Pushing and pulling going on in that wall with a German player mixing it as well.
17:35Oh, Blintz-Bernst.
17:46Oh, it's a save by Ladic.
17:51Fingertips, I think.
17:53Oh, it took a deflection.
17:54I've got a feeling it also hit the base of the post.
17:57Yeah, with deflection off the defender, then hit the post.
18:00Yes, deflection and post, corner to be taken by Tarnat.
18:09Klinsman waiting.
18:10Klinsman jumping and the man who came in behind him not contact.
18:14And it was Beerhop inevitably.
18:18And every time a cross goes in, they look dangerous.
18:20But that was the one where Ladic, very relieved.
18:24Oh, attack, attack.
18:28But as they do so, Croatia can break.
18:31It's Boban.
18:32And now it's Vlaivic.
18:34Schugger coming in far side.
18:36Vlaivic goes for goal.
18:37Oh, it's there.
18:39Croatia have scored again.
18:41It's 2-0.
18:42And they're off the bench in celebration.
18:46And Vlaivic, with an unerring shot,
18:49has surely put Germany, the former world champions,
18:53out of the competition.
18:56He can hardly believe it himself.
19:00With 10 minutes to go in Lyon,
19:03Croatia have gone 2-0 up.
19:06And just look at these scenes.
19:10Vlaivic had space on this side of the field.
19:13It was the angle that looked a little bit difficult,
19:15but he steered it beautifully past Kupke.
19:18Not offside.
19:19It was almost an action replay of Jarni's goal,
19:22except from the right rather than the left.
19:23It just bounced in the corner all the way.
19:26Kupke, no touch at all.
19:29Well, it looks as though the sensation that's been brewing all evening
19:33is actually going to happen.
19:38A repeat of four years ago, in a sense,
19:40as far as Germany are concerned.
19:43But can they get one back with Marshall,
19:45having just come on?
19:47That's Jeremis on the far side.
19:49Goal kick.
19:52Well, Croatia.
19:55Only seven years old as a footballing nation.
19:58And that's their proudest moment so far.
20:03Croatia.
20:05The exciting new arrival.
20:07Germany, the battle of our campaigners of the past.
20:12Two down.
20:13With only 10 men.
20:15And it could get worse as Jarni gets in.
20:17And behind it.
20:18Oh, and there's a touch for the third guy.
20:19It's gone in.
20:21And it's Shuker.
20:25Well, he's made up now for two misses.
20:30And that certainly settles it.
20:34And Croatia are through to the semi-final of the World Cup.
20:39And a moment that they will never forget.
20:46Shuker, who's threatened to do it all night,
20:50has made it 3-0 here for Croatia.
20:53The ball going through the legs of Kyrpka.
20:59And Germany, who don't get beaten very often,
21:02and only get beaten by three in your dreams,
21:06have suddenly woken up to the fact that they're out of the World Cup.
21:10Well, the tongues are hanging out.
21:11There's a lot of tired legs.
21:13And they've just unbalanced.
21:14Not enough people back.
21:15And Shuker has taken advantage of it.
21:18And I think they're just going to enjoy these last few minutes,
21:21aren't they, the Croatians?
21:23The miserable face there of Kyrpka.
21:27As Stimac's defence again.
21:28This is Tarnat.
21:29They're still coming forward, Germany.
21:32I think Stimac of Derby County has been the man of the match.
21:35Look at that.
21:36That's him again.
21:38And it could get even more embarrassing for Germany now.
21:40They're stretched all over the place.
21:42They're a man down.
21:43And they're trying to attack.
21:44And every time they do,
21:45Croatia finds space at the other end of the field.
21:50There's Prozenecci there on the bench who didn't play tonight.
21:56Luzo knows he's in with the chance of being the leading goalscorer
21:59whilst Croatia stay in the tournament.
22:01Here he comes again.
22:05And he goes for the curler.
22:08Yes, that was Schuchert's fourth goal tonight.
22:11That puts him one behind those who lead.
22:32And there goes Bierhoff and he's onside.
22:38Corner.
22:42There's a man who knows it's all over.
22:44And there's one who knows that it's just starting.
22:59Marshall coming towards the near post.
23:01This is Heinrich with the attempted header.
23:03Jeremis.
23:05But if Croatia break here, it could be four.
23:08They've got loads of players over.
23:10Just pick the man out here.
23:12And it's Schuchert again.
23:13And look at Boban.
23:15There's so many of them.
23:19The man who's just come on there.
23:21Maric nearly got a shot in.
23:23There were too many players queuing up.
23:26I don't know how they didn't score.
23:28It was about six against one there, as you say, queuing up.
23:35No, I think they thought it was the final whistle.
23:38But I don't think you'll find it is at the moment.
23:40A few more seconds.
23:41But look.
23:43They know it's all over, really.
23:51Prolacia bring rich romance to the 1998 World Cup.
23:57And the Germans are forced to face an unfamiliar reality.
24:06The underdogs, here for the first time, are in the semi-final against France in Saint-Denis on Wednesday.
24:15With a convincing victory that has left the Germans flat out and finished.
24:23What a moment for a nation that is only seven years old.
24:34There were those who felt the World Cup was just short of one really big story.
24:38One turn up to enliven it in the sense that football is such an unpredictable game.
24:44And that Croatia have done.
24:47Albeit playing against ten men for more than half the match.
24:51What you have to do then is take advantage.
24:54The Germans have done it many times in the past.
24:57Croatia did it tonight at their expense.
24:59And there are some 9,000 Croatians.
25:02Not all inside the ground, I might say.
25:04Although most of them manage to get tickets.
25:07And you're looking at scenes that they never expected to see.
25:10Jürgen Klinsmann, his face a mask as he walks off the world stage for the last time.
25:18But the Croatian players have gone to that corner of the ground.
25:22Where those who did get tickets know that they've experienced a night they will never forget.
25:36Such contrast on the faces.
25:38You'd almost feel you've been at a World Cup final.
25:41The way people are reacting here.
25:43But Croatia now know that they are only one step away from that.
25:47And they've nothing to lose against the hosts France really.
25:53As the surprise team of this competition.
25:56And how delightfully they took advantage of a situation.
26:01That came their way.
26:09Davos Schuker, a hero.
26:18And the German's fallen heroes.
26:22Previous winners eliminated in the end with something to spare.
26:28And the German's fallen heroes.
26:28And the German's fallen heroes.
26:28And the German's fallen heroes.
26:28And the German's fallen heroes.
26:29And the German's fallen heroes.
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