Croatia beat Euro 2008 co - hosts Austria 1 - 0 in opening Group B match . Luka Modric scores fourth - minute winner after striker Ivica Olic is fouled . Croatia battle back in the second half but miss a series of late goals . `` We took some time to recover , during the first 30 minutes we were nervous . ` Croatia next face Germany on Thursday , while Austria take on Poland .
Croatia beat Euro 2008 co - hosts Austria 1 - 0 in opening Group B match . Luka Modric scores fourth - minute winner after striker Ivica Olic is fouled . Croatia battle back in the second half but miss a series of late goals . Croatia next face Germany on Thursday , while Austria take on Poland .