BEIJING, June 16 -- Five days of opening World Cup calm ended with a volley of bottles and chairs as dozens of German hooligans clashed with police Wednesday before their country's pivotal win over Poland.

For much of the day, German police worked with their counterparts from neighboring Poland to identify and arrest traveling troublemakers without incident. It was homegrown hooligans who lashed out about two hours before the late evening kickoff after police confronted them in a central square.

By the time rain began falling after midnight, police said they had arrested 300 German hooligans ¡ª at least 120 in the central square ¡ª and 60 Polish hooligans.

The threat of fan violence had been a theme ahead of the month-long soccer tournament. To head off trouble, authorities across Europe confiscated passports of known troublemakers, increased border patrols and drew up extensive policing plans for the dozen game cities.

While much of the focus was on the English, Dutch and Polish, some German officials worried about thugs who wouldn't have to travel.

The trouble began Wednesday when police spotted about 40 men, later described as hardcore hooligans, and blocked the route between the outdoor area where they sat drinking and a nearby big screen where games are shown for free.

Some started throwing bottles and chairs and shooting fireworks; backup police arrived, as did more hooligans, said Lorenz, who was rushed to the safety of a nearby restaurant. Police hauled handcuffed men into a bus outfitted with individual cells.

No officers were injured, police said. At least one hooligan was seen receiving treatment for facial cuts.

The first round Germany-Poland match appeared one of the most potentially dangerous off the field. Although both are now members of the European Union, the contest was laden with symbolism given Germany's World War II invasion of its neighbor.

A spate of hooliganism in Poland had heightened fears of violence and German police stepped up their border patrols.