Germany's 2-0 victory in its opening match saw the nation extend its impressive unbeaten record against Poland, which now stands at 12 wins and four draws. Mike Perez reports.
The victory continued Germany's impressive unbeaten record against the Poles, which now stands at 12 wins and four draws. One of the tournament favourites despite not having won a final since that 1996 triumph in England, Germany had a nervous start when, from the first attack of the match, goalkeeper Jens Lehmann spilled a cross after colliding with team-mate Per Mertesacker.
Fortunately for the former Arsenal custodian, Poland's midfielder Jacek Krzynowek blazed the loose ball into the massed ranks of German fans behind the goal.
Joachim Low's side did not have to wait long to create their opening opportunity though, and it really should have resulted in the first goal of the game. A Michael Ballack through-ball sent Klose away, but instead of taking the chance himself the striker opted to slip the ball inside to Mario Gomez who, with the goal gaping, was unable to stretch enough to get a clean connection and his effort dribbled agonisingly wide of the post.
The excitement continued with Poland captain Maciej Zurawski just failing to get on the end of a low cross from the right as the German defence again looked uncomfortable under pressure.
Germany took the lead not long after though when Klose again broke the Poland offside trap, with Gomez sending the striker clear. Once more Klose unselfishly opted to set up a team-mate, and this time his pass across the face of goal took Celtic's Artur Boruc out of play and allowed Gleiwitz-born Podolski the simplest of tap-ins.
The Germans were good value for their lead at that point, but Poland were not without their chances and Wojciech Lobodzinski saw his low drive held by the diving Lehmann, before Zurawski dragged a decent chance wide of the far post during a purple patch for Leo Beenhakker's men.
At the other end Gomez missed a similar chance for Germany following good work by Clemens Fritz down the right before Mariusz Lewandowski saw Lehmann save his long-range pile driver with what was the final effort of a decent first period.
The introduction of the lively Roger Guerreiro gave Poland a spring in their step at the start of the second period, but despite giving the German back line plenty to think about, the Poles were still playing catch-up as the game entered the final 30 minutes.
Germany looked dangerous on the counter-attack and substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger tested Boruc with a low drive before the Polish goalkeeper produced a brilliant fingertip save to deny Ballack in the 70th minute. The Chelsea man looked certain to score after latching onto Philipp Lahm's cut-back, but Boruc was equal to the German skipper's rising shot.
However, Boruc's good work was undone soon after when Germa- ny pounced on a defensive mistake from Pawel Golanski to double their lead. Golanski took too long in attempting to clear the ball and Schweinsteiger blocked it before feeding the ball inside for Klose.
Klose, however, mis-hit his shot, but the ball spooned up nicely for Podolski who slammed an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net.
That left Poland with a mountain to climb to avoid defeat in their first appearance at the European Championship finals, but Beenhakker's side almost gave themselves a lifeline when Guerreiro's near-post cross was glanced goalward by Marek Saganowski.
Lehmann, however, blocked Saganowski's header and Poland were unable to capitalise on the subsequent loose ball.
Podolski had a chance to score another goal with two minutes remaining, but he fired over with his less-favoured right foot from 15 yards out.
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