The first free-kick goal of the tournament helped put Germany through to the quarter finals and sent Austria out of Euro 2008.

The match started with both sides looking to progress to the latter stages.  For Austria, it was simple.  Win or go home.  Germany needed only a draw.

And it was the Germans who started the quicker and should have been ahead early on when Mario Gomez contrived to miss an open goal from two yards.  It was the miss of the tournament so far, and summed up Gomez's tournament.  The Stuttgart striker came into the competition as a pundits' favourite to finish the tournament's top goalscorer, but he has had a shocking Euro 2008 so far.

In an amusing sideshow, both managers were sent to the stands after a heated discussion with the fourth official on the touchline.  Referee Manual Mejuto Gonzalez ordered both managers to take a seat in the stands, reducing German manager Jogi Loew to explaining the finer points of the game to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Back on the pitch, neither side could find the breakthrough as the first half drew to a close, but after the break fans didn't have to wait long until they saw the ball hit the net.

The goal, scored on 49 minutes, arrived via the right boot of captain Michael Ballack.  The Chelsea midfielder struck a powerful free-kick from 30 yards, which rocketed into the top corner of the net.

The Austrians pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but failed to breach Germany's somewhat unconvincing back line, as the Germans progressed to the knockout stage, where they will face Portugal in the quarter finals.