KLAGENFURT, Austria — Croatia stunned pretournament favorite Germany 2-1 at the European soccer championship Thursday.
The Germans hardly looked the odds-on choice, often appearing confused on defense and sloppy on offense. And the Croats were unlucky not to score more often in advancing to the quarterfinals.
“This match showed that we can play with everyone,” midfielder Niko Krancjar said. “We dominated the field, never letting them develop their own game.”
Croatia has six points and clinched Group B when Austria tied Poland 1-1.
In that game, Ivica Vastic converted a penalty kick in injury time to salvage a tie for Austria in Vienna, Austria.
• Cat Whitehill, a defender for the U.S. women’s national soccer team, will miss the Olympics after tearing a knee ligament.
• Kheli Dube had a goal and an assist as the New England Revolution extended its unbeaten streak to six games with a 2-0 win over the Dynamo in Houston.
• Brian Budd, a former Canadian national soccer player who also played with the Colorado Caribous in the defunct North American Soccer League, died Wednesday after collapsing in his Toronto home. He was 56.
Hawks offer Woodson extension
ATLANTA — Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson has been offered a two-year extension. Woodson, whose contract expires at the end of June, is 106-222 and his win total has improved in each of his four years.
Footnotes.
Finland’s Roope Kakko shot a 3-under-par 68 in windy and rainy conditions to take a one-stroke lead in the Saint-Omer Open in Saint-Omer, France. Finland’s Mikko Korhonen, France’s Adrien Bernardet and Englishmen Marcus Higley and John E. Morgan opened with 69s.
• Nicole Powell and Crystal Kelly each scored 18 points to lead the Sacramento Monarchs to an 82-78 win over the Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis.
• Guard Doneal Mack, who averaged 12.5 minutes during Memphis’ run to the national championship basketball game, is transferring.
• Florida center Marreese Speights has decided to keep his name in the upcoming NBA draft, hiring an agent and skipping his final two years of eligibility. He averaged 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds last season.
• The NCAA will keep the College World Series in Omaha through 2035 under an unprecedented 25-year contract extension. The agreement will take effect in 2011 when the CWS moves from Rosen-blatt Stadium to a 24,000-seat downtown ballpark.
• Andy Roddick reached the quarterfinals at Queen’s Club in London when fellow American Mardy Fish withdrew with a left ankle injury after losing the opening set 7-6 (5). Top seeds Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic also reached the quarterfinals despite some struggles.
• France’s Cyril Dessel used a late breakaway to win the fourth stage of the Dauphine Libere cycling race in France, while Spain’s Alejandro Valverde retained the overall lead.
The Associated Press
