Half time: Germany 2 Australia 0

Germany held a comfortable half-time lead against Australia in their opening Group D match in Durban.

Lukas Podolski opened the scoring in the eighth minute before Miroslav Klose doubled Germany's advantage before the break.

The Germans were looking by far the more incisive team against the Socceroos who appeared nervous after going behind.

Germany coach Joachim Low handed out-of-form Klose the lone striker's role and it proved a wise move.

The Socceroos had the better of the early stages and came close to taking the lead in the third minute.

In a scramble in the area, Richard Garcia's close-range shot was blocked by Philipp Lahm.

The Germans responded shortly after, with an unmarked Klose surging inside the area and hitting a right-footed strike towards goal which Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer parried away.

Podolski made no mistake seconds later.

He got on to Thomas Muller's pass from the right and fired a bullet strike from 15 yards.

Schwarzer managed to get a touch but the ball went in.

Jason Culina should have restored parity in the 17th minute but nodded over from Brett Emerton's cross.

Midway through the first half, Klose missed a glorious chance to make it 2-0.

The veteran latched on to Podolski's cross but fired wide from eight yards.

He made amends shortly after as he extended his team's lead in the 26th minute after sloppy defending by Australia.

Lahm crossed from the right and, with Schwarzer flapping, Klose bravely nodded into the empty net.

Australia's defence was disorganised and on the half-hour captain Lucas Neill managed to clear Mesut Ozil's goalbound shot with Schwarzer already beaten.

Before half-time, Germany's Sami Khedira headed high over the bar as Germany went into the break following a near-perfect first half.