An efficient performance from Germany saw them brush aside the challenge of Leo Beenhakker's Poland 2-0 in their opening Group B match at Euro 2008 in Klagenfurt.

Polish born Lukas Podolski, starting on the left flank instead of Bastian Schweinsteiger, was undoubtedly the star of the day for the Germans, who won their first game at the European Championships after their 1996 final win over the Czech Republic. Poland started off the game brightly and nearly took the lead after just forty five seconds, but Jacek Krzynowek blazed his shot over. In the fourth minute, German skipper Michael Ballack's pass found Klose free in the area, but the Oppeln born striker decided to pass it to Gomez instead of beating an advancing Artur Boruc himself. Gomez was probably surprised, and his outstretched legs failed to connect with the ball.

However Gomez atoned for his mistake in the 20th minute, when he set up Klose nicely in the area. Klose squared it for Podolski, who duly found the back of the net. At the other end, Maclej Zurawski threatened to pull one back for the Poles, but his effort from Wojciech Lobodzinski's cross was not good enough. Eight minutes before the interval, Clemens Fritz did some excellent work down the right hand side, but this time Mario Gomez's poor finishing meant that Poland still harboured hopes of getting something from the game at half time.

Brazilian born Poland substitute Roger Guerrero threatened to create something in the 58th minute, but Germany's defenders sniffed out the danger. Ballack's fierce shot was brilliantly tipped over by Boruc in the 69th minute, but the Poles were made to pay for their lack of organisation at the back two minutes later. Schweinsteiger's pass found Klose, who miskicked the ball into the path of Podolski, who blasted it past Boruc to make it 2-0. Substitute Marek Saganowski's near post header seven minutes from time was saved by Jens Lehmann, who otherwise had a comfortable day between the sticks. A winning start for Joachim Low and his boys, and they did look in good form.

Germany starting XI :- Lehmann, Mertesacker, Lahm, Metzelder, Jansen, Fritz (Schweinsteiger), Frings, Ballack, Podolski, Gomez (Hitzlsperger), Klose (Kuranyi)

Poland starting XI:-Boruc, Bak, Wasilewski, Zewlakow, Golanski (Saganowski), Dudka, Lewandowski, Lobodzinski (Piszczek), Zurawski (Roger), Krzynowek, Smolarek.