Austria v Croatia

Austria have yet to name their team, but captain Andreas Ivanschitz says they will start with two forwards.

Croatia defender Vedran Corluka has shaken off a knock on his Achilles tendon, which he picked up on Friday.

And coach Slaven Bilic sprung no surprises in his team selection, and will send out his side in their traditional 4-4-2 line-up.

In the absence of the injured Eduardo da Silva, Croatia's attack will be led by Mladen Petric and Ivica Olic.

Croatia's defence is considered a weaker part of their team and Ivanschitz made it clear Austria will try to take advantage of that percieved frailty.

He said: "Their central defence is vulnerable. With our fleet-footed strikers, we can hurt them."

However, Croatia's midfield is rated as very strong with skilful playmakers Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar pulling the strings.

Dario Srna - the main supplier of crosses - and veteran captain Niko Kovac will provide able support.

Up front Petric has scored nine goals in 21 appearances for Croatia, while Olic has hit nine in 51 internationals.

Head-to-heads

Austria and Croatia have met three times before, all encounters were friendlies.

Croatia won all three matches, most recently on 23 May 2006 when they won 4-1 in Vienna. Ivan Klasnic (2), Bosko Balaban and Marko Babic scored for the visitors. Andreas Ivanschitz scored the only goal for Austria.

Team facts - Austria

Are making their European Championship debut. Four nations have won this tournament on their debut. They are: Soviet Union (1960), Spain (1964), Italy (1968), West Germany (1972). The last host nation to win this tournament was France in 1984.

Austria's 5-1 win over Malta in their final warm-up match marked just their second win in the last 16 matches. They have not won any of their last six matches in the Ernst Happel Stadion.

Team facts - Croatia

Taking part in a European Championship for the third time. Their best performance came in 1996 when they reached the quarter-finals.

Coach Slaven Bilic played in all four of Croatia's matches that year. Bilic will be 38 years and 271 days old on Sunday, making him the fifth youngest coach in the history of this tournament. Slovenia's Srecko Katanec became the youngest coach ever at a European Championships. He was 36 years 333 days during the 2000 tournament.

Failed to win their last five matches at European Championships (two draws, three defeats). Their last European Championship win dates back to 16 June 1996, when they beat Denmark 3-0 in the group phase.

Player facts - Austria

Rene Aufhauser was Austria's top scorer with six goals during their two-year friendly campaign (24 matches).

Backup goalkeeper Ramazan Ozcan (Hoffenheim) joins Poland's Marek Saganowski (Southampton) and Germany's Oliver Neuville (Borussia Monchengladbach) as the only Euro 2008 players to have played their 2007-08 club football below the top flight.

If selected, Martin Hiden will be making his 50th international appearance for Austria.

Ivica Vastic is the only player in the squad who has ever played at a major international tournament. He played in three matches at the 1998 Fifa World Cup.

Player facts - Croatia

Dario Simic returns to a European Championship tournament for the third time, following Euro 96 and Euro 2004. He has played four previous matches at this tournament which makes him Croatia's joint record holder.

Hrvoje Vejic will turn 31 on the day of this match.

Eduardo da Silva was Croatia's top scorer in qualification with 10 goals. He will miss Euro 2008 after suffering a broken leg while playing for Arsenal in the Premier League in February.

Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports

Germany v Poland

However, Germany coach Joachim Loew could decide to switch Podolski to the left-hand side of midfield.

Loew is keeping his cards close to his chest but goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke said many places are still open.

Poland pair Jakub Blaszczykowski and keeper Tomasz Kuszczak are already ruled out of the tournament.

The Poles lost the pair before a ball was even kicked in anger.

Goalkeeper Kuszczak was ruled out with a back injury on Friday and replaced by Wojciech Kowalewski.

And winger Blaszczykowski suffered a hamstring strain that forced him to withdraw from the squad.

Germany have no injury concerns in their 23-man squad.

"All our players are healthy," said Koepke. "The final decision will come after tonight's practice in Klagenfurt.

Germany go into the game without a victory in the Euros since they won the final in 1996.

And they are hoping the three Polish-born players in their team, Klose and Podolski, and midfielder Piotr Trochowski, can give them some inside information about their opponents.

"They are the so-called insiders and we may have an advantage because of that," Germany assistant coach Hansi Flick said.

Head-to-heads

Germany and Poland have met on 15 previous occasions. Poland have never beaten Germany and have managed only four draws and 11 defeats.

Their last confrontation occurred on 14 June 2006 at the Fifa World Cup in Germany, when the hosts won 1-0, courtesy of an Oliver Neuville goal in extra time.

The last time Poland avoided defeat against Germany was in the opening match of the 1978 Fifa World Cup (1 June 1978) when they played out a goalless draw.

Team facts - Germany

Won the European Championship a record three times (1972, 1980 and 1996).

They will also be making a record 10th appearance at the European Championship. The Germans have been ever present since their victorious debut in 1972.

Also hold the record for European Championship matches played (32) and won (15).

Have not won a European Championship match since triumphant in the final of Euro 96 against the Czech Republic.

They are currently on a six match winless streak in this tournament which is a German record and the joint longest current streak together with Switzerland's.

Been knocked out in the group phase in their last two European Championship appearances. In the history of the competition, no nation has been eliminated in three successive group phases.

Team facts - Poland

Making their debut at the European Championship, having already participated in seven Fifa World Cups. The last nation to win the competition on their debut was (West) Germany in 1972.

Dutchman Leo Beenhakker will be coaching in his third major tournament, having led the Netherlands in the 1990 Fifa World Cup and Trinidad and Tobago in the 2006 Fifa World Cup.

At the 1990 World Cup, Beenhakker's reigning European champions Holland were knocked out by West Germany in the second round.

Player facts - Germany

Three players in the German squad (Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and Piotr Trochowski) were born in Poland.

Miroslav Klose will celebrate his 30th birthday the day after this match.

Player facts - Poland

With David Healy (Northern Ireland) failing to qualify and Eduardo da Silva (Croatia) missing because of injury, Poland's Ebi Smolarek (nine goals) is the top marksman from qualifying to actually take part in Euro 2008.

Jacek Krzynowek (VfL Wolfsburg) and Jakub Blaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund) play their club football in Germany.

Poland's Marek Saganowski (Southampton) joins Germany's Oliver Neuville (Borussia Monchengladbach) and Austria's Ramazan Ozcan (Hoffenheim) as the only Euro 2008 players to have played their 2007-08 club football below the top flight.

Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports