Podolski had to endure months of heavy criticism after scoring just two goals for his Bundesliga club Cologne last season with the team finishing in 13th place.
Germany coach Joachim Loew's decision to pick the forward for his World Cup squad was also questioned but the 25-year-old silenced his critics with a goal in their opener.
"We play a more aggressive game with the national team than we play at Cologne," Podolski told reporters. "At the club we are far more defensive.
"It is always like that with the national team and we have trained like that for many years."
Podolski could not have picked a better time to score, with Germany's young team earning considerable respect at the very start of the month-long tournament.
"For me scoring in this match came as no surprise. I know what I can do," he said. "Clearly, I had a difficult season at Cologne but my aim was always to have a good World Cup and until now it has worked very well."
"Loew has been working with me for several years. We have to stick to the players who have been delivering. Everything else is just a snapshot of the moment," Podolski said.
"I have learned a lot with him and I have improved," he said, adding he hoped Loew would renew his contract as Germany coach after the World Cup.
