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scarcasm wrote:When Germany stops playing Goat-mez and Podolski they could actually win a title. There are just too many good young players to stick with failures.
Klose deserves Germany record, says Mueller
BERLIN, May 31, 2013 (AFP) - Striker Miroslav Klose is poised to break Gerd Mueller's 39-year-old record as Germany's top goalscorer in Sunday's friendly against the USA, but the 'Bomber of the Nation' has said he hopes the Lazio hot-shot betters his landmark.
With 67 goals in 126 appearances for Germany, Klose, who turns 35 on June 9, is one short of Mueller's record as he joined up with the Germany squad for their two-match tour of the USA after helping Lazio win the Italian Cup last Sunday.
Germany take on Jurgen Klinsmann's USA team in Washington DC on Sunday, after Wednesday's 4-2 friendly win over Ecuador, and Mueller expects Klose to break his record of 68 goals in 62 games, the last of which gave West Germany the 1974 World Cup title.
"It has long since just been a matter of time before he breaks my record, I am pleased for him," the 67-year-old Mueller has told SID, an AFP subsidiary.
"Miro is a great striker and a great guy, who I met a few times when he played for Bayern Munich. He's deserved it."
Having made his debut back in 2001, Klose has needed almost double the matches Mueller took to net his tally and the former Werder Bremen and Bayern star is embarrassed to even be compared to Mueller.
"It is a total joke to compare me to him," Klose has previously said on the subject.
"You can't compare him to anyone, what he has achieved, in terms of goals and numbers of matches, is unique. I have told him that personally.
"Perhaps when I hang up my boots it will make me proud, but my journey is not over yet."
Klose, a firm favourite of Germany coach Joachim Loew, has said he wants to go onto Brazil 2014, which could see him break Brazil striker Ronaldo's mark of 15 goals in World Cup tournaments with the German's current tally on 14.
Sunday's friendly will be Klose's first international since scoring twice in Germany's 4-4 draw with Sweden in a World Cup qualifier last October when the Germans allowed a four goal lead to slip in Berlin.
His main rival for the Germany shirt, Mario Gomez, has had to spend most of this season on the bench at Bayern Munich behind Croatia's Mario Mandzukic.
"As long as my old bones keep working, I'll put myself in the competition for a place," said Klose, who is approaching Lothar Matthaeus' record of 150 for the most appearances for Germany.
ryj/lp
Courtesy: ScoreMobile for Android (http://m.thescore.com/scoremobile)
dean_spleen09 wrote:United States 4, Germany 3
inb4
just a friendly/germany b team / etc ...............
rfari wrote:USA gonna talk about this for years
Small thing. Grueling season for the main guys of the mannschaft. Well deserved rest.
rfari wrote:USA gonna talk about this for years
Small thing. Grueling season for the main guys of the mannschaft. Well deserved rest.
Football: Klose equals goal record as Germany down Austria
Germany edged closer to booking their World Cup place with a convincing 3-0 win over Austria in Friday night's qualifier as striker Miroslav Klose equalled the German goal-scoring record.
The win at Munich's Allianz Arena in front of 68,000 fans leaves Germany five-points clear at the top of Group C with three games left, including Tuesday's away trip to bottom side Faroe Islands.
Veteran striker Klose, 35, equalled Gerd Mueller's 39-year-old record of 68 goals for Germany when he gave his side a first-half lead on his 129th international appearance as Bayern pair Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller added second-half goals.
Mueller, now 67, netted the last of his 68 goals with the winner in the 1974 World Cup final as West Germany beat the Netherlands 2-1 in Munich on his 62nd appearance in the famous white shirt.
Klose has needed more than double the amount of matches to equal the German record.
"It's an honour to be level with Gerd Mueller's record, but I have often said you can't really compare the two of us, as he scored his goals in so few games," said Klose.
Another milestone was honoured before kick-off as Germany captain Philipp Lahm was presented with his 100th cap as he became the eighth German Football Federation (DFB) player to reach the milestone.
"It's great to convincingly beat the team who were second in our group," said Lahm.
"We didn't leave much space at the back and were creative going forward for our goals.
"We used our week well, but we must keep working harder."
The best chance of the opening half hour came when Marco Reus' shot was parried by Austria goalkeeper Robert Almer, who managed to get back on his feet fast enough to save Klose's header.
But five minutes later the veteran was not to be denied his landmark goal when Mueller fired in a cross and Klose fired home off the shin of Austria defender Aleksandar Dragovic on 33 minutes.
Kroos doubled the hosts lead on 51 minutes when he slotted home a Reus pass from well outside the penalty area which gave Almer no chance.
Having leaked nine goals in their last three previous friendly games, Germany's defence was noticeably more robust, even with Joachim Loew's team missing vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and attacking midfielder Mario Goetze.
"We did our homework, we knew how Austria would play and we took the sting out of them," said Loew.
"It was good to keep them scoreless, but ultimately it's the win which counts.
"I am pleased that Miro finally got the record, I am sure his 69th goal will follow soon."
Loew brought on Borussia Dortmund's defensive midfielder Sven Bender for Klose ten minutes from time to safeguard the lead and Mueller netted the third on 88 minutes when he converted replacement Benedikt Hoewedes' pass in front of goal.
Victory gave Loew's side their sixth win from their seven qualifiers with only last October's dramatic 4-all draw with Sweden in Berlin -- when Germany threw away a 4-0 lead -- the only blot.
The defeat leaves Austria third in the group, three points behind Sweden, who moved up to second after beating the Republic of Ireland 2-1 in Dublin on Friday.
Germany are away to Group C bottom side Faroe Islands on Tuesday, the same night Austria host the Republic of Ireland in Vienna.
Philipp Lahm relishing joining Germany's 100 club
One noticeable statistic from Philipp Lahm's career is that since his debut against Croatia in February 2004 he has made the starting line-up for each of his 99 appearances.
Agence France-Presse |
Last updated on Thursday, 05 September 2013 23:15
Berlin: Captain Philipp Lahm has said he is relishing making his 100th appearance for Germany "in his own backyard" for Friday's World Cup qualifier against Austria.
The Bayern Munich right-back will become only the eighth international to bring up the key milestone for the German Football Federation (DFB) and will be doing so on home turf at the Allianz Arena, home of the Bavarian giants.
"It really has come together incredibly well," said Lahm, with Germany five points clear in Group C and the top teams from the nine European groups going through to the World Cup next June in Brazil.
"It's a special match, and I'm privileged to be playing it in my own backyard, as it were, which is fantastic.
"My family will be there, lots of my friends are coming, and plenty of acquaintances."
One noticeable statistic from Lahm's career is that since his debut against Croatia in February 2004 he has made the starting line-up for each of his 99 appearances.
Lahm is in good company alongside the likes of other greats Lothar Matthaeus, who won 150 caps for Germany, plus current internationals Miroslav Klose (128) and Lukas Podolski (111).
Germany's World Cup winning captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer is another famous name having made 103 appearances in the famous white shirt.
"When I look back to the past and see how many outstanding players didn't make it to 100 caps, Gerd Mueller or Uwe Seeler for example, you realise it's definitely special when you make it there yourself," added Lahm.
Lahm took over from Michael Ballack, who retired on 98 appearances, as Germany captain just before the 2010 World Cup and he has always been first-choice for national coach Joachim Loew.
"For almost ten years now, Philipp Lahm has epitomised consistency, reliability and the highest standards in the national team," said Loew.
"He has natural authority, he accepts responsibility, he communicates well, and despite our flat hierarchy in the national team, he's an undisputed leader.
"It's very special for him to be winning his 100th cap right here in his home city of Munich."
Even Lahm's Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, who took charge in June, has only the highest praise.
"Philipp Lahm is for me the smartest player I've ever coached in my career. I'm glad to be here (at Bayern) just because I can train him. He's on another level," said Guardiola, significant given his four years at Barcelona with superstar Lionel Messi.
Goalkeepers (3): Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hanover)
Defenders (10): Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreutz (Dortmund), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Dortmund), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal/ENG), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria/ITA), Marcel Schmelzer (Dortmund).
Midfielders (15): Lars Bender (Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Friburg), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich), Andre Hahn (Augsburg), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid/ESP), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Max Meyer (Schalke), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal/ENG), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal/ENG), Marco Reus (Dortmund), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea/ENG), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
Forwards (2): Miroslav Klose (Lazio/ITA), Kevin Volland (Hoffenheim)
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