European Championship 2008: Group B profile
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Coach:Josef Hickersberger.
World Cup record: Seven appearances, semifinals in 1934 and 1954.
Euro 2004: Did not qualify.
Overall European Championship record (including qualifying): 33 wins, 13 draws, 34 losses in 80 games.
European Championship final tournament record: Playing in first Euros.
Top Players: Andreas Ivanschitz, Martin Hiden, Alexander Manninger.
Prognosis: Playing at home will be a boost, but Austria is the lowest-ranked team at the tournament and will find it difficult to survive the first round.
Coach: SlavenBilic.
World Cup record: Three appearances, semifinals in 1998.
Euro 2004: Eliminated in first round.
Overall European Championship record (including qualifying): 28 wins, 11 draws, 8 losses in 47 games.
European Championship final tournament record: 2 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses in seven games over two tournaments. Reached quarterfinals in 1996.
Top Players: Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar, Ivica Olic. Ivan Klasnic will be the first player to take part in Euros following a kidney transplant.
Prognosis: Croatia again proved it is a force in world soccer by eliminating England with a huge win at Wembley in qualifying. If they continue to produce that kind of form in Austria, the Croats will be a strong candidate to advance from the group stage.
Coach: Joachim Löw.
World Cup record: 16 appearances, champion in 1954, 1974 as West Germany, 1990.
Euro 2004: Eliminated in first round.
Overall European Championship record (including qualifying): 67 wins, 29 draws, 14 losses in 110 games.
European Championship final tournament record: 15 wins, 10 draws, 7 losses in 32 games over nine tournaments. Champion in 1972, 1980 as West Germany, 1996.
Top Players: Michael Ballack (pictured above), Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski.
Prognosis: Germany's young team is maturing, and that makes the three-time champions a threat for everyone -- even though the team has not won a game at the European Championship since beating the Czech Republic in the 1996 final.
Click here for World Soccer's Q&A with defender Philipp Lahm.
Coach: Leo Beenhakker.
World Cup record: Seven appearances, semifinals in 1974, 1982.
Euro 2004: Did not qualify.
Overall European Championship record (including qualifying): 38 wins, 24 draws, 28 losses in 90 games.
European Championship final tournament record: Playing in first European tournament.
Top Players: Artur Boruc, Maciej Zurawski, Euzebiusz Smolarek.
Prognosis: Poland produced one of the best qualifying campaigns, but a tough draw leaves the team needing an upset or two to reach the quarterfinals.
