Modric Set For Premiership!

Croatia were made to work hard for their narrow victory as Austria, cheered on by a partisan home crowd at the Ernst Happel Stadion, recovered from a poor opening half-hour to push Slaven Bilic's men all the way to the final whistle.

Modric scored the earliest penalty ever conceded in the European Championships, when Ivica Olic was bundled over in the third minute.

Middlesbrough defender Emanuael Pogatetz was booked for his protests but Modric kept his cool, stepping up to send keeper Jurgen Macho the wrong way.

Modric nearly turned provider with fifteen minutes gone when his dangerous set-piece delivery was narrowly missed at the near post by Olic, who with half-an-hour gone, made a complete fool of Pogatetz, nutmegging the Boro defender with a cheeky back-heel by the corner flag.

Pogatetz pulled back the CSKA Moscow forward and was extremely lucky to avoid a second yellow card.

Modric and Olic nearly combined again just before the hour mark when the Spurs man took advantage of some slack defending but his drilled cross was scrambled clear by Martin Stranzl with Olic waiting to pounce.