By Steve Wilson and agencies
Austria (0) 0 Croatia (1) 1
Predictions of humiliation for Austria proved wide of the mark in their opening game with Croatia in Vienna, though Slaven Bilic's side still emerged with all three points despite an almighty scare.
The mood of pessimism had been such that over 10,000 Austrians had signed a petition to withdraw from the competition, the team having won just twice in their last 16 matches.
Another defeat duly arrived after Luka Modric converted a fourth minute penalty, but one with credit from a spirited performance that deserved more.
Croatia started the match in fine style, dictating play and opening up Austria at will but, missing an out and out goalscorer failed to hammer home their advantage.
Complacency, too, seemed to set it, such was their evident superiority and Austria regrouped and fought their way back in to the match.
The final 15 minutes saw Austria lay siege to the Croatia goal but to no avail. The decisive moment of the match came minutes after Croatia's noisy supporters had taken their seats after the anthems.
Ivica Olic chased a hopeful ball towards the byline where he was clumsily brought down by Rene Aufhauser. Middlesbrough's Emmanuel Pogatetz was booked for protesting against the decision but there was no element of doubt.
Modric converted the spot kick straight down the middle. The goal preceded a period of neat-passing from the Croatians and Olic and Mladen Petric both went close to a second after a dangerous low Darijo Srna free kick, before Petric, unmarked in the area, blasted wide after a deep cross from Vedran Corluka.
Austria looked shell-shocked by the early setback and only late in the half did they build any sort of attacking pressure, their best effort coming when Joachim Standfest steered a header just over the bar.
The home side were more positive after the break, pinning Croatia back for long periods and swinging in some dangerous crosses. But a poor final ball too often let them down.
The introduction of veteran Umit Korkmaz for the last 20 minutes added some bite to the Austrian attack as they built to a rousing finale, but Croatia held out.
From: telegraph
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