VIENNA, June 8 (Reuters) - Croatia got their Euro 2008 campaign off to a winning start on Sunday when a fourth-minute Luka Modric penalty proved enough to beat co-hosts Austria 1-0 in the opening game of Group B.

Croatia were well worth their win against a team placed 92nd in FIFA’s world rankings and set the pace before group rivals Germany and Poland met in Klagenfurt later on Sunday (1845 GMT).

TENERO, Switzerland, June 7 (Reuters) - Nervous Germany need a captain’s performance from Michael Ballack against Poland on Sunday to revive the spirit of the 2006 World Cup and end a bleak run at the European Championship finals.

Germany last won a match in these championships in the 1996 final and even their unbeaten record against Poland (11 wins and four draws in 15 games since 1933) will not stop them feeling jittery heading into their Group B opener in Klagenfurt.

Croatia boss Slaven Bilic has backed Luka Modric to take centre stage at Euro 2008 in the absence of Eduardo - and the Tottenham midfielder is confident he can live up to expectations.

Modric and his team-mates consigned England to a summer of friendlies against USA and Trinidad and Tobago, and now they are ready to enhance their own reputations further.

Swiss co-hosts meet Czech Republic in opener

BASEL, June 6 (Reuters) - Euro 2008 gets underway on Saturday with co-hosts Switzerland pitting their promising young team against an experienced Czech Republic side (1600 GMT) keen to prove their best days are not behind them.

Portugal’s Gomes hunting for goals against Turkey
NEUCHATEL, Switzerland, June 6 (Reuters) - Another two-goal winning performance from striker Nuno Gomes against Turkey would suit Portugal fine in their Euro 2008 opener at 1845 GMT on Saturday.
Nuno Gomes, who is expected to lead the line in the Group A game in Geneva, struck twice to give [...]