France 98 - Quarter-final: Germany v Croatia

Saturday 4 July 1998

Stade de Gerland, Lyon

And so the quarter finals bring us here - perennial heavyweight Germany versus one of the world's newest countries, Croatia.  Fresh from second-round victories against Mexico and Romania respectively, the two teams ran out at Lyon's Stade de Gerland, for what looked like being a juicy little affair.

40 minutes
Towards the end of an even half, German defender Christian Worns sees straight red for a high-studded challenge on Coratia's Davor Suker.  Could this be a game-changer?  Germany up against it now.

45+3 minutes
Germany on the ropes and desperate to keep it level as they claw through to half time.  It is not to be.  The ball is squared across the German box, and Robert Jarni takes one touch, before hitting a left-footed peach of a shot into the bottom right hand corner of the German net.  The Croatian bench erupts.

80 Minutes
There have been great chances at both ends of the field, but the Croatian defence holds firm to maintain their lead.  Oliver Bierhoff has a fairly good penalty appeal turned down, and Dietmar Hamann is denied by the post, before Croatia break away four-on-three, spread the ball right to Goran Vlaovic, whose low shot across the goalkeeper finds the bottom left hand corner for 2-0.  Should German 'keeper Andreas Kopke do better?

85 minutes
An iconic goal from the Croatian legend Davor Suker!  He picks up the ball on the left of the Germany penalty area, beats Ulf Kirsten and takes it to the byline, cuts back inside, and hits a low shot through the legs of floundering defender Jorg Heinrich.  3-0.

the final whistle signals the end of the greatest match in Croatian football history, as the newcomers waltz into the semi-finals in the most comprehensive fashion.  No doubt Germany will come back far stronger next time around.