体坛英语新闻：Germany, Croatia smash rivals' dreams at Euro 2008

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.

    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.

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.

    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, 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.

    Joachim Loew's men created the better chances, although Poland were close to equalizing in a few occasions as well.

    During the first half, striker-turned midfielder Podolski, who replaced Bastian Schweinsteiger, demonstrated his excellent penetration skill and his fine cooperation with Klose and Mario Gomez, ending up with the first score.

    Poland come close to levelling the score in the 36th minute as Zurawski receives the ball in the penalty area but his diagonal shot went just wide of the far post.

    During the second half, Germany, which have claimed top titles of the European tournament on three occasions, showed no retreat on their offensive.

    Loew sent Schweinsteiger to the pitch, who sealed the rumor of poor performance by creating many opportunities for his team.

    For one thing, the 24-year-old offered an excellent pass to Klose, resulting in Podolski's second goal.

    German Captain Michael Ballack did not score, but his offensive brought about many turmoils among the defense line of the opponents.

    The victory has thus ended Germany's upset history in the European tournament that they have not yet won a single match after they claimed the title in 1996.

    "Winning the first game is very important, that add our confidence," said Loew after the match.

    For Poland, their dream of beating Germany awaits next occasion.

    After Sunday's matches, both Germany and Croatia boast three points but Germany edged out the latter with one more goal to take the first place in Group B.

    Austria and Poland are listed third and fourth due to lost goal difference.

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.

Poland's Jacek Bak challenges Germany's Clemens Fritz (R) during their Group B Euro 2008 soccer match at the Woerthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt, June 8, 2008.