[AUSTRIA-GERMANY REPORT CARD] Needing just a tie against co-host Austria, which required a victory to advance, to reach the quarterfinals, Germany prevailed, 1-0, in the scrappy affair thanks to Michael Ballack's 25-yard free kick early in the second half.

The game had more dubious moments than highlights: Germany's Mario Gomez missing the open net from two yards, the dismissal of both coaches after they squabbled with each other, and Austrian midfielder Rene Aufhauser escaping ejection after striking Lukas Podolski in the face.

Soccer America's Mike Woitalla grades the players.

Austria Player Ratings
GRADE PLAYER (CLUB) GP/G
7 Juergen Macho (AEK Athens) 17/0
6 Gyorgy Garics (Napoli) 14/1
6 Martin Stranzl (Spartak Moscow) 48/2
5 Martin Hiden (Kaernten) 50/1
5 Emanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough) 30/2
3 Rene Aufhauser (Red Bull Salzburg) 54/11
5 Christian Fuchs (Mattersburg) 18/0
4 Martin Harnik (Werder Bremen) 11/2
4 Andreas Ivanschitz (Panathinaikos) 42/6
3 Erwin Hoffer (Rapid Vienna) 5/0
3 Umit Korkmaz (Rapid Vienna) 5/0
Subs:
5 Christoph Leitgeb (Red Bull Salzburg) 20/0
4 Juergen Saeumel (Sturm Graz) 14/0
4 Roman Kienast (Ham-Kam) 9/1

Germany Player Ratings
GRADE PLAYER (CLUB) GP/G
6 Jens Lehmann (Arsenal) 58/0
4 Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin) 58/0
5 Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen) 46/1
5 Christoph Metzelder Real Madrid) 44/0
6 Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich) 44/2
3 Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen) 17/2
5 Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen) 75/10
7 Michael Ballack (Chelsea) 84/37
5 Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich) 51/28
1 Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart) 13/6
4 Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich) 78/39
Subs
4 Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart) 35/5
nr Oliver Neuville (Borussia Moen.) 69/10
nr Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen) 32/2

(1-low; 5-average; 10-high)