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Germany defeated co-host Austria 1-0 in a smashing performance late on Monday night, advancing their way into Euro Cup 2008 quarterfinals. The Germans secured their victory in the Group B match owing to Michael Ballack’s free kick against Austria. With this defeat, Austria too is eliminated from the European championship like co-hosts Switzerland.
Also witnessing the match was Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel cheering for the team from the stands. She was later joined by Coach Joachim Loew, who was witnessed explaining the finer points of the game to her. The only goal striker of the game, Ballack however felt that it was a tough match and now Germany can expect a tougher game with Portugal next in line. The Chelsea midfielder remarked that now they have a bigger target that is to go to the finals. Ballack scored the only goal of the match, when he fired in a powerful 30 yard shot from a free kick won by Philipp Lahm.
