Joachim Loew insists Germany will get better at Euro 2012

Joachim Loew says there is more to come from his side after Mario Gomez justified the German coach's decision to start with the striker.

Bayern Munich's Gomez headed the winner in the 1-0 win over Portugal in their opening Group B game just as he was about to be replaced by Miroslav Klose.

"Gomez has lots of different qualities - one chance, one goal," said Loew.

"The important thing was to win. The European Championship is like a Formula One race but without a warm-up."

Germany were heading for a frustrating goalless draw when Gomez headed the 72nd-minute winner to leave Portugal needing to avoid defeat against Denmark in their next game on 13 June.

Lazio frontman Klose - scorer of 14 World Cup goals - has been struggling with a thigh injury in the build-up to the tournament, meaning Gomez got the nod up front.

"I spoke with Miro," Loew added. "He still needs maybe a few per cent at this moment. He hasn't played for quite a while in the preparation.

"They both trained really well but Gomez has been playing for the whole season, scoring lots of goals."

Gomez, 26, has become used to being behind Klose in the pecking order, but hopes his winner will secure him a regular place in Loew's starting plans.

"I have two successful seasons behind me but it was a hard road," he said.

"I am very happy that the coach had confidence in me and with the goal I could pay something back."

Loew promised there was more to come from the three-times world champions, but felt the important thing was to start with the win.

"You have to be ready straight away because every team is incredibly strong," he said.

"There is no team like in the World Cup where you can acclimatise yourself [against them] - Portugal were right there straight away.

"It's very important not to chase your own shadow - you have to win the first game.

"Both teams knew the team that lost would have a lot to do in the next game - kind of like a knockout situation.

"We could have attacked a bit better, but we will do that. The main thing is that we won and we've got these three points."

Cristiano Ronaldo insists Portugal can recover from losing to Germany and advance in the tournament.

Paulo Bento's side face Denmark, who defeated Netherlands 1-0, in their next match on 13 June.

Portuguese winger Ronaldo has urged his team-mates to turn the clock back eight years when, as host nation, they lost their opening game 2-1 against Greece before reaching the final.

"Anyone who watched the match will have seen that we were better than Germany, and the chances speak for themselves," the former Manchester United player told Uefa.com.

"But now we have to pick ourselves up and continue.

"We have to take as an example 2004, when we also started with a defeat, but then reached the final."