Germany had no answer to Croatia�s moves as Slaven Bilic and his men dictated the afternoon, writes Kevin McCarra.
Italy were trounced, France stifled and now Germany are mortified. This is a chastening championship and it will be relished all the more for it. Defeat by Croatia need not be fatal for Joachim Low�s squad and the real harm may have been done with the doubts implanted. With 11 minutes left, for example, Michael Ballack headed against Josip Simunic and Lukas Podolski rifled in his third goal of the tournament to cut the deficit. Everyone believed they knew the script to come but Germany muffed their lines.
Low's men were much less effective in grappling legitimately. They gave a flat, predictable display. The reviews for Croatia, however, had been equally severe when they scraped past Austria earlier. It is too soon to reach a damning verdict on Germany � but as runners-up in Group B they would anticipate a tough quarterfinal with Portugal.
We are unaccustomed to seeing such vulnerability in a Germany side and it was a shock to learn just how fallible Marcell Jansen can be. The spectacle was bound to be cut very short and Low removed the left-back at the interval. With the ball at his feet it was obvious that Bayern Munich's 22-year-old is talented but when Croatia had possession they targeted him with soaring optimism.
Jansen's reactions were sluggish at the opener in the 24th minute. There was crisp work from Croatia on their left flank and when Danijel Pranjic flighted an excellent, deep cross Darijo Srna dashed in front of Jansen to prod the ball into the net.
That was no isolated piece of persecution. When Vedran Corluka went past the defender and picked out Niko Kranjcar the lead ought to have been doubled. Portsmouth's midfielder instead fired straight at Jens Lehmann. Kranjcar put his hands on his knees as if remorse had knocked the wind out of him. Like the rest of us, he must have been raised on the belief that Germany always take devastating advantage of any reprieve. Assumptions of that nature were a factor in the bookies' decision to make them favourites to win this European Championship.
Schalke's 20-year-old Ivan Rakitic showed why he is so highly rated and vindicated Bilic's decision to aim for more mobility by picking him as an auxiliary attacker at the expense of Mladen Petric. One sharp delivery from him was knocked down by Ivica Olic, only for Kranjcar to fire high after 31 minutes.
The strange clincher by Croatia was merited because they had always been sprightlier. With 62 minutes gone, Rakitic's cross deflected off Podolski and Lehmann, a little slow to react, tipped the ball against his post. On this day it was virtually inevitable that the rebound should fall at the feet of Olic. He had earned that goal with the sharp running that had made Germany's defenders so unsure of themselves. Croatia had also won the numbers war, with a far larger support than their opponents. Those fans were crowing from early in the match, luxuriating in the more expressive style of their side. Germany could not answer back as Bilic and his men dictated the afternoon.
© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2008
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