Ballack cracker puts Germany into last eight

A thunderbolt free kick from captain Michael Ballack led Germany to a 1-0 victory over co-hosts Austria and a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 on Monday.

Ballack blasted an unstoppable rising kick into the roof of the net in the 49th minute after Germany had struggled to break down the tenacious Austrians.

Germany finish second in Group B behind Croatia and meet Group A winners Portugal in the quarter-finals in Basel on Thursday.

Austria are eliminated, following their fellow hosts Switzerland out of the tournament at the group stage.