KLAGENFURT, Austria — Beating the land where he was born was rewarding for Lukas Podolski. He simply refused to gloat about it.

Lukas Podolski scored both goals last night to give three-time champion Germany a brilliant start at the European Championship with a 2-0 win. The Germans have not been beaten by Poland in 16 meetings over 75 years. It was Germany’s first victory in Euros since winning the 1996 finals over the Czech Republic.

Podolski was born in Poland, but came to Germany in his childhood and became a German citizen.

“My dad and uncle and relatives from Poland were there in the stands,” Podolski said. “They’re going home tonight, so that’s why I went there (to the stands). I didn’t celebrate very much because I was born in Poland, I have a big family there, and you have to have some respect for the land.”

Normally a striker, Podolski got to start as a left midfielder and justified the selection by scoring after 20 minutes. Mario Gomez smartly flicked the ball through Poland’s back line to Miroslav Klose, who squared it to Podolski at the far post. Podolski coolly tapped it in, with goalkeeper Artur Boruc scrambling to get back in position.

In the 73rd, Bastian Schweinsteiger shook off a half-hearted challenge by Pawel Golanski and fed Klose, He mis-hit the ball, but it bounced to Podolski, whose powerful left-footed volley clinched it.

“It was one game, we won, we wanted to win, but we have to improve against Croatia,” Podolski said. “It was a bit more difficult to play against Poland two years ago (at the World Cup). They were defensively good today, but I think they wanted to play a little bit more with us. It was easier than two years ago.”

Gomez did better in setting up his teammates than finishing himself. Early in the game, Klose used a perfect through ball from Michael Ballack to feed Gomez, but the striker could not prod it in despite sliding at the far post. Later, he collected a good cross from Clemens Fritz, only to shoot wide.

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Croatia 1, Austria 0 Croatia dominated early and got a goal. Austria took control late, but never found the net.

Luka Modric scored from the penalty spot in the fourth minute Sunday, then Croatia struggled to hold on against a desperate Austrian offense for a 1-0 win at the European Championship.

Modric put his team ahead in the fourth minute of the Group B match after Rene Aufhauser brought down Ivica Olic in the area. Dutch referee Pieter Vink awarded the penalty and Austria defender Emanuel Pogatetz was then given a yellow card for protesting.

With goalkeeper Juergen Macho diving to his right, Modric sent the ball low and into the middle of the net.