Sky Sports

Michael Ballack's stunning free-kick sent Germany into the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 after a 1-0 win over co-hosts Austria in Vienna.

The Germany captain struck a tight game's only goal on 49 minutes when the midfielder hammered an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner of Jurgen Macho's net.

Germany - knowing a draw would be enough to advance to the last eight - should have taken the lead after just five minutes when Mario Gomez contrived to miss in front of a gaping goal.

Austria could not be faulted for effort in search of the win they required, but Josef Hickersberger's side lacked a cutting edge where it mattered and never seriously troubled opposition keeper Jens Lehmann.

Hickersberger and his Germany counterpart Joachim Low were sent to the stands for bickering before half-time and, four minutes after the break, Ballack settled the issue.

The three-time European Championship winners will now face Portugal in the quarter-finals, while Austria will hope to unearth a new Hans Krankl by the time the next major tournament comes around.

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