MUNICH, Germany (Reuters):

TWO UNINSPIRED performances in Germany's opening World Cup games saw Lukas Podolski written off as lacking at least the nerve and perhaps the skill to live up to his reputation as the best German striker in a generation.

After a self-affirming goal against Ecuador and now a match-winning double against Sweden, the 21-year-old has shown he can provide the cutting edge that Germany have lacked since current coach Juergen Klinsmann was in his prime.

His partnership with the more creative Miroslav Klose was devastating yesterday, taking Germany into a 2-0 lead by the 12th minute and ultimately a quarter-final against Argentina.

The hosts were under pressure for a while, and the story might have taken a different turn had Henrik Larsson not blasted a penalty over the bar early in the second half, but there was much to concern their next rivals in this performance.

Germany also have the priceless quality of Michael Ballack in midfield, where he played with absolute command yesterday, and the factor of home advantage as they seek a fourth World Cup win and a second on home soil.

"We now have the momentum and our target is to go all the way to the final," Klinsmann said after the match.

"It was fun to watch the Klose-Podolski partnership," he added about his two Polish-born strikers. They understand each other so well and they were fantastic."

KEPT FAITH

German newspapers assumed Podolski, who turned 21 five days before the start of the tournament, would lose his place after missing a series of simple chances in the two wins over Costa Rica and Poland.

Klinsmann kept faith, however, and was rewarded by seeing the youngster slide in score the third goal in a 3-0 win over Ecuador that sealed their place as group winners.

It was clear from the start against Sweden that he had rediscovered his self-belief.

In the fourth minute, he lashed the ball goalwards and in off the hapless Lucic after Klose's run on goal had been blocked. Eight minutes later he took a clever pass from his colleague to double the lead.

It would be hard to overestimate just how good Klose was.

Swedish centre-backs Olof Mellberg and Teddy Lucic must have thought they were up against Diego Maradona as the 28-year-old German, scorer of four goals himself in this tournament, exposed their frailties in ruthless style.

On the first goal he showed a sublime touch to trick his way between two defenders and bear down on goal and his pass behind him for the second was perfection.

When West Germany won the World Cup for the third time in 1990, it was Klinsmann and Rudi Voeller leading the line.

It was all too much for the Swedes, although they did play much better after Lucic was red-carded in the 35th minute.

"Berlin! Berlin! We're going to Berlin!" the fans roared after the second of the two goals and, of course, they are right, as Germany will play their quarter-final at the Olympiastadion in the capital on June 30.