Croatia claimed an impressive win over pre-tournament favourites Germany to take control of Group B at Euro 2008.

Darijo Srna broke the deadlock on 24 minutes when he beat Marcell Jansen to Danijel Pranjic’s cross and fired home.

Croatia were gifted a second goal on 63 minutes when Ivan Rakitic’s cross came off Lukas Podolski and rebounded off the post for Ivica Olic to slot home.

Podolski pulled a goal back with a late drive but Bastian Schweinsteiger’s red card ended German hopes in injury time.

Spain coach Luis Aragones praised his strikeforce of David Villa and Fernando Torres after his side’s comprehensive 4-1 win over Russia at Euro 2008.

Villa scored the first hat-trick of the tournament with Torres setting up his first as the pair showed they will be a tough proposition for their rivals.

“When I think of Villa, it’s a name that makes me think of scoring,” said Aragones after the Group D opener.

“Villa is a brilliant player but so is Torres when he’s got space.”

Switzerland coach Jakob Kuhn could be in hot water with UEFA after publicly questioning the neutrality of top Italian referee Roberto Rosetti, the official who took charge of the Euro 2008 opening match.

Switzerland dominated the encounter but succumbed to a 1-0 defeat by the Czech Republic after having two appeals for penalties turned down in connection with incidents in which the ball struck the arm of Czech defenders inside the box.

Cristiano Ronaldo believes Portugal have a great chance of winning Euro 2008 if they can play as they did in the 3-1 win over the Czech Republic.

Ronaldo scored one goal and set up another in the win which put Portugal on the brink of the quarter-finals.

“Our main aim was to get to the next phase. I’m very happy to have helped my team-mates to win,” said Ronaldo.

“We played well in the first match and again in this match. If we carry on like this, we have a good chance.”

Germany captain Michael Ballack says his team are wary of England-slayers Croatia ahead of Thursday’s Euro 2008 Group B clash which will guarantee the winner a last eight berth.

The 31-year-old Chelsea midfielder was outstanding in his side’s 2-0 opening victory over Poland on Sunday as two goals from Bayern Munich’s Lukas Podolski got Germany off to a flying start.

But Croatia beat England twice in their qualifying campaign to deny the English a Euro 2008 berth and Ballack says Germany must raise their game if they want to reach the quarter-finals and beyond.

First night nerves, an impotent attack, a stolid Romania team and even the weather were all put forward as reasons why favourites France were held to a goalless draw in their opening Euro 2008 tie here Monday.

Manager Raymond Domenech left Zurich’s Letzigrund stadium knowing that only a win against their next Group C opponents Holland in Berne on Friday will do to keep the 2000 champions alive and kicking in these championships.

It’s fair to say he won’t be getting much sleep as he tries to fathom out a way to unlock the key to France’s impotent strike force.

Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy’s opening goal in the win over Italy was legitimate, says Premier League referees’ chief Keith Hackett.

Van Nistelrooy looked yards offside when he prodded home from close range.

But it appears he was played onside by defender Christian Panucci, who was lying off the pitch at the time.

“The fact is the assistant was correct; the defender who slid off the field is still regarded as active,” Hackett told BBC Sport.

“Christian Panucci went off through contact with his own goalkeeper (Gianluigi) Buffon. He is still considered part of the game.”