Poland rue failure to break German stranglehold

By Alexandra Hudson

KLAGENFURT (Reuters) - Poland coach Leo Beenhakker surveyed yet another failed attempt to beat their perennial nemesis Germany at Euro 2008 and blamed a marginal offside decision against them for "killing" his team.

Sunday's Group B 2-0 victory for Germany, who have never lost to their neighbours, hinged to a large extent on Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo deciding that Lukas Podolski's opening goal should stand despite Polish claims of offside.

Ovrebo then made the reverse decision, similarly marginal, denying striker Ebi Smolarek an equaliser just after the hour.

Podolski, who was born in Poland, went on to rub salt into the wounds with his 72nd minute second.

Beenhakker said the fact the first goal may have been marginally offside was "killing" for his team as it continued to weigh heavily on their minds long afterwards.

"If you have doubts about the goal then you feel it as a team and you take a bit of time to get over this moment and start again," he said.

LARGELY MATCHED

However, he praised their efforts for having largely matched their opponents for 72 minutes of the game.