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Tenero: For Germany, today's Group B game with Croatia in Klagenfurt is not just about qualifying for the quarterfinals, it is about proving they are serious contenders for their first title since 1996.
"We'll see what our status is after the Croatia game," captain Michael Ballack said. "We know we're going to have to raise our game to beat them."
Germany, three times European champions, beat Poland 2-0 in their opening match but they see Croatia, who overcame co-hosts Austria 1-0 in their first game, as a much more important scalp.
"They have high ambitions in this tournament - they beat England twice in qualifying - and I think they'll play a much more offensive game than Poland did," Ballack said.
If Germany do improve from the Poland game they should be too strong for a Croatia side who did not look overly impressive in their first win over the unfancied Austrians. However, Germany have mixed memories of playing Croatia in major tournaments.
Germany beat Croatia 2-1 in the last eight on their way to winning Euro 96 but suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat by them in the World Cup quarterfinals two years later.
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