Germany hungrier than previous title winners

Germany's squad are hungrier for glory than their predecessors who lifted the trophy twelve years ago, team manager Oliver Bierhoff said today.

"It's difficult to compare the two but I think this team might have even more hunger for a title than we had," Bierhoff told a news conference following Germany's victory over Poland in their opening group match yesterday.

Bierhoff, who struck the equaliser plus the golden goal winner when the team coached by Berti Vogts beat Czech Republic in the 1996 final, said it was a relief to end a dire run of results in the championship proper.

Yesterday's win in Klagenfurt was the first in the finals by Germany since that triumph over the Czechs.

"We're all just glad to have ended the twelve-year jinx," said Bierhoff. "We won the first game in as well so maybe it's a good omen."

Bierhoff's role in Joachim Loew's coaching team is a wide brief to ensure Germany enjoy the best preparation possible for the tournament.

The 40-year-old former striker had every reason to be satisfied with the way a fitter, stronger side shrugged off a bad spell in the middle of the match to beat Poland with two goals from Lukas Podolski.

"All the preparation is paying off," Bierhoff said. "We finished the game as we started, with it players and we should give great credit to the trainers, the physios and the medical department."

The reward for Germany's players is an afternoon off, with wives and girlfriends free to visit, the German Football Association said.

Loew's team next face Croatia in Klagenfurt on Thursday before meeting co-hosts Austria in Vienna four days later.