Poland trio fit to face Germany in opener

Midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski has recovered from a hamstring injury and will be fit for Poland's opening Euro 2008 match against Germany on Sunday.

Blaszczykowski trained earlier today after having been sidelined for two weeks.

'We are delighted to have him back and his presence will be a major boost against Germany,' coach Leo Beenhakker told reporters.

'We thought he would only be available for the final group match against Croatia and this is really good news.'

Beenhakker will have a full squad to choose from for the Group B tie in Klagenfurt after defender Michal Zewlakow and midfielder Wojciech Lobodzinski also shook off niggling ankle knocks.

The 65-year-old Dutch coach is hoping Poland will end a 15-match sequence without a victory against the Germans dating back to 1933.

'We are aware of this record and we are reasonably confident we can finally beat Germany,' said Beenhakker.

'A win would really put wind in our sails although it's too early to tell how far we can go in the tournament.'

Poland also play co-hosts Austria in Vienna on 12 June and Croatia in Klagenfurt four days later.

Ballack won't lose head over pictures

Germany captain Michael Ballack played down controverisal pictures in a Polish newspaper demanding the Poles beat Germany.

Polish tabloid newspaper Super Express printed a modified picture of Beenhakker holding the heads of Germany boss Joachim Loew and captain Michael Ballack.

The picture had the headline: 'Leo, bring us their heads!', but the Germany camp reacted calmly to the provocation ahead of the opening Group B game in Klagenfurt, Austria.

Ballack, with 81 caps to his name, insisted the provocation would not hamper Germany's preparations.

'Unfortunately, these things happen in football, although something like that is not normally seen,' he told sports agency SID at Germany's Euro 2008 camp in south Switzerland.

'These things happen and they won't affect our preparations for the game.'

And German Football Federation president Theo Zwanziger also moved to sooth any ill feeling between the sides.

'Poland are our neighbours and friends,' said Zwanziger.

'We have a very good relationship with them and everything is now just about what happens on 8 June.'

But Beenhakker reacted angrily when he heard what Super Express had printed.

'That is shit. Here one sees what sick people there are in this world,' he said.

'I disassociate myself from this made-up photo and hope that it is now only about the sport.'