KLAGENFURT, Austria (AP)—Croatia stunned pretournament favorite Germany 2-1 Thursday, taking control of Group B at the European Championship.
The Germans hardly looked the odds-on choice, often appearing confused on defense and sloppy on offense. And the Croats were unlucky not to score more often.
Croatia now has six points and could advance early, depending on the outcome of the later game between Austria and Poland. Germany still has three points after beating Poland.
Croatia took the lead in the 24th minute after Danijel Pranjic swapped passes with Ivan Rakitic and then sent a cross for Darijo Srna. He slid just ahead of defender Marcell Jansen and scored past goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
Ivica Olic made it 2-0 in the 63rd minute after a shot from Rakitic on the right flank was deflected by Germany forward Lukas Podolski and bounced off the post right at Olic’s feet. Podolski scored his third goal of the tournament in the 79th.
Germany was reduced to 10 men in injury time when Bastian Schweinsteiger was given a red card for pushing Croatia substitute Jerko Leko to the ground.
Six minutes after Croatia’s first goal, midfielder Niko Krancjar could have made it 2-0 but he sent his shot over the crossbar. Lehman made a save on Krancjar’s left-footed volley on a cross from Luka Modric. Lehmann also fumbled a long-range shot by Modric early in the second half that nearly trickled inside the post.
The Germans, meanwhile, never found their pace and looked out of ideas against a crafty Croatian team that often changed the pace of the game.
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