Source: Xinhua

06-09-2008 17:28

Special Report:   2008 European Championships

KLAGENFURT, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Germany and Croatia on Sunday smashed their rivals' dreams of creating history at the Group B matches of the 2008 European football championship.

Germany's soccer team pose together on the pitch before their Group B Euro 2008 soccer match against Poland at the Woerthersee Stadium  in Klagenfurt, June 8, 2008. Back row from L-R: Marcell Jansen,  Christoph Metzelder, Mario Gomez, Jens Lehmann, Per Mertesacker,  Michael Ballack, Miroslav Klose. Front row, from L-R: Lukas Podolski,  Philipp Lahm, Torsten Frings, Clemens Fritz. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Poland-born German striker Lukas Podolski scored twice to help Germany beat Poland, which have long dreamed of winning a single match against their western neighbor, while Croatian midfielder Luka Modric's early penalty kick prolonged Austria's plan of winning a match at the European tournament.

In Vienna, Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria wanted a win for their opening match, also their first appearance in the European championship finals, but their plan was marred in the 4th minute of the match when the penalty cropped out.

The penalty gave Croatia a sweet early lead and the sole goal of the match.

Austria recovered and had an opportunity to go level five minutes from the break as Martin Harnick got in round the back, drawing some last-ditch defending from Josip Simunic to prevent a tap-in.

Harnick, soul of Austria's attack, constantly threatened the Croatia's defence from the right as Austria went rampant after the restart.

Hickersberger threw on Ivica Vastic, Umit Korkmaz and Roland Linz in the second half to add to Austria's firepower.

It did work as shots from Harnick, Vistic, Korkmaz all forced good saves from Croatia's keeper Stipe Pletikosa.

Substitute Roman Kienast got his head to a valuable free kick in injury time but the ball just slid wide to the frustration of the co-hosts.

Croatia also gave away opportunities including a Darijo Srna's dangerous delivery of which no one got on the end.

Austria, ranked 92nd in the world by FIFA, were better in ball possession and had eight shots on target compared to Croatia's three, but the lack of experience and efficiency cost the championship finals new comers any chance.

"The whole team are very depressed," Hichkersherger told a press conference after the match.

"We are very disappointed as we could equalize or even win the match during the second half," he said.

"We were dominant in the second half and we got very good opportunities, unfortunately, we did not score and got home with empty hands," he added.

In another match on Sunday, Germany and Poland staged a tit-for-tat battle at the Worthersee Stadium of Klagenfurt.

Podolski scored both goals in the 20th and 72nd minute respectively for Germany, all of which came from the pass from selfless Bayern teammate Miroslav Klose.

For the first, Podolski found the net after he got a superb pass from Klose, who cracked Poland's offside trap by getting an excellent ball from Mario Gomez and penetrated the Polish defense line with his abrupt movement.

For the second, the 23-year-old smashed the net with a swirled ball coming from Klose.

Poland's Ebi Smolarek fights for the ball against Germany's Christoph  Metzelder (top) during their Group B Euro 2008 soccer match at the  Woerthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt, June 8, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Poland, which saw their first appearance at the final stage of the European football championships, intended to create a history as the team have never won a single match against their western neighbor.

However, it was Germany who got upper hand advantage and exerted more pressure on the Polish side.