Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas insisted on Monday that the Euro 2008 Group D favourites were not a collection of individuals like their their star tennis player Rafael Nadal but instead a finely honed team.

Spain have frequently entered tournament finals considered amongst the best sides there but more often than not have flattered to deceive.

And they have come under fire in their own highly-demanding press recently for supposed weaknesses, particularly in defence.

However, ahead of their opening match against Russia here on Tuesday, the Real Madrid goalkeeper claimed they have the right collective mentality to succeed.

Lukas Podolski’s double ensured Germany made a winning start to their Euro 2008 campaign against Poland in Klagenfurt.

Polish-born Podolski put Germany on the path to a deserved victory when he slid home Miroslav Klose’s pass from close range after 20 minutes.

Germany were dominant, with Poland keeper Artur Boruc saving brilliantly from Germany captain Michael Ballack.

And Podolski added his second with a powerful rising volley that left Boruc helpless with 18 minutes left.

It was Germany’s first victory in the tournament since they beat the Czech Republic to win Euro 96 at Wembley.

Euro 2004 finalists Portugal should be regarded as favourites for winning Group A at Euro 2008 and not Turkey insisted the latter’s star turn Nihat Kahveci on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Villarreal striker said that the Portuguese were more logical favourites both for the group and for their match on Saturday in Geneva than the Turks, who have not exactly set the world alight in their warm-up matches.

“We have completely messed up in our previous two qualifying set of matches, for Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup (where they were disgraced after attacking Swiss players following their elimination in a play-off),” said Nihat, who has 14 goals to his name in the international arena.

Germany have endured a nightmare run in European championships since Oliver Bierhoff’s golden goal clinched the trophy against the Czech Republic at Wembley in Euro 96.

The World Cup has told a familiar tale of typically impressive German achievement, but the Euros have been a wasteland - now might be time for all that to change.

European football’s superpowers are always keen to put down an early marker on this tournament, and Joachim Low’s side followed Portugal’s example in delivering an impressive opening statement of intent.

Germany defender Philipp Lahm fired his country’s imagination with the first goal on their way to third in the 2006 World Cup, but he is more concerned about stopping opponents during Euro 2008.

The 24-year-old scored the only goal when Germany beat Costa Rica in their opening 2006 World Cup group match, but Lahm is more concerned with shutting out Poland’s strikers when their Euro 2008 campaign begins in Klagenfurt, Austria, on Sunday.

Germany are amongst the favourites to pick up their fourth European crown to add to the ones they won in 1972, 1980 and 1996 with the German public desperate for success.

Croatia were forced to hang on against tournament co-hosts Austria to begin their Euro 2008 campaign with a win.

They were gifted what proved to be a fourth-minute winner when Luca Modric drilled home a penalty after Rene Aufhauser clumsily felled Ivica Olic.

Austria’s Joachim Standfest headed their best chance wide as they finished the first half in better form.

And after the break Austria’s Umit Korkmaz had a stinging shot well saved and Roman Kienast headed narrowly wide.

Poland’s attacking midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski has been ruled out of Euro 2008 after suffering a serious thigh injury during training on Thursday.

The Borussia Dortmund player was injured at the team’s Bad Waltersdorf base in Austria, aggravating an old thigh problem, a national team spokeswoman said.

Poland have asked European football’s governing body UEFA for permission to replace Blaszczykowski with 23-year-old Hertha Berlin player Lukasz Piszczek.

Source:Soccer News