Croatia stunned Germany by beating them 2-1 in their Group B fixture.

GERMANY

Lehmann: 6- Beaten twice but not at fault for either goal. Let down by Jansen for the first and beaten by a wicked deflection for the second. He pulled off a top reflex save in the first half to deny Kranjcar.

Lahm: 6- Another quiet game from Lahm. We didn’t see him getting forward as much as he does with Bayern, and he had to switch to left back in the second half as Löw switched things around.

Mertesacker: 6.5- Began the game very well blocking and intercepting everything the Croats threw forward, but was helpless to stop them scoring twice.

Metzelder: 6- Metzelder still looked a long way off the pace at times, but is getting through on defensive ability and cleverness. Lost possession cheaply at times, but did get back late on to deny Modric a goal scoring chance.

Jansen: 4.5- Jansen had a bit of a nightmare. Looked good going forward but hopeless defensively. Lost Srna in the box for Croatia’s opener and was hauled off by Joachim Löw at half time

Frings: 6.5- Solid enough but not his dynamic best.

Ballack: 6.5- Captain Ballack did his best to drive the team forward in the second half after going 2-0 down. His header ultimately lead to Podolski’s goals late on.

Fritz: 6- Had a better game than last time out against Poland, but not much of a threat going forward. Had to drop back to full back at half time with Jansen going off and Lahm switching flanks.

Podolski: 7- Another goal for the Bayern striker but it wasn’t enough to spare the Germans defeat. Seems to be enjoying his new role out on the left of midfield.

Klose: 5- A rather anonymous game from the German striker. Difficult to remember any threatening chances on goal.

Gomez: 6- The number one German striker had another quiet game and failed to really threaten the Croat goal. Substituted in the second half for Schweinsteiger.

Subs:

Odonkor: 5- Didn’t really have the desired impact after being brought on at half time

Schweinsteiger: 5- Did inject a little skill and direction after coming on, but blotted his copy book by becoming the first player sent off at this summer’s finals

Kuranyi- n/a


CROATIA

Pletikosa: 6.5- Not too busy overall but did produce a fine save from Ballack in the first half. Helpless to stop Podolski’s goal in the second period.

Corluka: 6.5- A good overall display from the Manchester City full back. Didn’t venture forward as much as Panic on the other flank.

R. Kovac: 7.0- A solid defensive performance from Kovac although the danger from Klose and Gomez wasn’t as great as he may have feared prior to the game. His weak header set-up Podolski for the German goal.

Simunic: 7.0- A fine display from the Hertha Berlin defender alongside Kovac at the heart of the Croatian defence.

Pranjic: 7.5- The Heerenveen full back made plenty of forays forward and looked secure at the back. Secure in defence and a threat going forward.

Srna: 8.0- The Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder had a very good game running himself into the ground before being substituted in the second half. He scored the first goal and was a constant threat with his deliveries from corners and free kicks.

N.Kovac: 7.0- There was some tough tackling from the Salzburg midfielder, and while unspectacular, he performed an important job for Croatia in the heart f the midfield allowing the likes of Modric and Kranjcar forward

Kranjcar: 7.0- A fine display from the Portsmouth midfielder. He was pushed a little further forward to support the lone striker Olic. He wasted a glorious chance to make it 2-0 in the first half after firing straight at Lehmann. Used possession well.

Modric: 8- Ever busy and always looking to create. He kept going right to the end and very nearly got on the end of a good counter attack only to be denied by the stronger Metzelder.

Rakitic: 7.0- The Schalke midfielder had a fine game and linked play up well. It was his cross that was deflected onto the post leading to the second goal from Olic.

Olic: 7.5- The Croat lone striker ran himself into the ground before being replaced in the second half by the fresher Petric. He was rewarded for his efforts with the second goal of the evening.

Subs:

Petric: 6- Did well when brought on to provide fresher legs after Olic had tired.

Leko: 5- The main talking point will be the incident that led to the sending off of Schweinsteiger. He was pushed but he went down rather theatrically.

Knezevic: n/a