Josef Hickersberger has resigned from his position as the coach of Austria just a day before the Austrian Football Federation was set to decide on his future.

Germany skipper Michael Ballack powered his country through to the quarter-finals with a superb free-kick.

Poland and Austria drew 1-1 in this Group B clash in Vienna to keep their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals alive.

Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria have been handed a fitness boost with the news that both Emanuel Pogatetz and Roland Linz have overcome injury problems.

Luka Modric’s early penalty gave Croatia a hard-earned 1-0 victory over co-hosts Austria in the opening Euro 2008 Group B match in Vienna.

Austria won for the first time since last November to give their confidence a major boost ahead of Euro 2008.