Poland's veteran Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker tried on Wednesday to add some much needed levity to the increasingly heated

atmosphere surrounding their opening Euro 2008 clash with Germany this Sunday.

The 65-year-old, who as Dutch coach at the 1990 World Cup was involved in a fiery encounter in the quarterfinals with eventual champions the then West Germany which saw both Frank Rijkaard and Rudi Voller sent off, said there was only one way to beat the Germans.

"In Holland we say: to be certain

of beating the Germans it is imperative that one follows them to the bus taking them back to the hotel," hejoked.

The atmosphere prior to the match, which is regarded as one of the most sensitive of the tournament given the history between the two countries, has got increasingly heated with notably Polish footballing legend Zbigniew Boniek commenting that the Poland players were 16 times more intelligent than the German players'.

A Polish newspaper has also ratcheted up the atmosphere as tabloid 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 — who could well

field two Polish-born players on Sunday in Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski — reacted calmly to the provocation.

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 so u th Switzerland.

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

The two sides have met each other 15 times since 1933 with Poland yet to win, the Germans having won 11 of them with the other four finishing in draws.

Aside from Germany and Poland, Group B also contains Croatia and co-hosts Austria.