Ballack! Yeah, was a cracker, no stoping that one.

It was funny with the managers sent to the stands, not normal you get both gone. I think it was a ploy to get some crafty tactics from Merkel.

Austria pretty poor in the final bit but not been the whipping boys that everyone imagined.

I'm saying nothing about Gomez. Ok, I will...Neuville was better!!!!

Gomez what a waste...I can't believe the coach plays him every freakin game...he should not be in the starting line up at all...I'm rooting for Germany or the Dutch to win it but I think Germany's downfall will be Lehmann....silly mistakes etc. in later stages.

Frings is on the FRITZ(not the player)....his passing is terrible....I would have preferred to see Odonkor play today. He's got the impact with the pace....and I surely missed Schweinsteiger today...at least he'll be back next round.

Must start Podolski and Klose up front together. Gomez's game was weak. I suspect he's preferred because of his physique and that helps attract long balls and free up space for Klose, but Gomez's hold-up play and targetman game is just weak all round.

I can't blame him for the goal-line miss, it took a wild bobble just as he was swinging his leg at it.

Frings did an excellent job, but I agree his through balls and chips forward were wasteful and inaccurate - but his defensive game was excellent. The other problem was that everytime he looked down an avenue with a pass, Fritz, Klose or Podolski bottled it or read it wrong. It was a very tight game and one of those balls over the top could have been the difference if someone gambled, but luckily that wasn't needed when Ballack's rocket went in.

I was disappointed in Klose as well. Some great chances and some really nice service and he looked uncomfortable in front of goal - not the Klose I remember.

Fritz was good though I thought. Made some good defensive cover for Fredreich and overall put in a good shift. I like Odonkor as well, so either him or Odonkor for the RW, Schweinsteiger back out left and Gomez dropped for Podolski.

Mertesacker and Metzelder were excellent tonight as well. Lahm was top notch per usual. Austria had a lot of fight and with the crowd behind them, gave a good performance and did themselves proud. The Germans were just too strong and they didn't need to truly express themselves.

It was like a tall bully holding away an arm-swinging kid, by the palm of his hand on the kid's forehead.

I agree that Mertesacker and Metzelder certainly improved their performances last night, but they did still look extremely vulnerable when Austria resorted to the long ball down the middle, on a couple of occasions it proved far too easy for the likes of Harnik to get in behind them.