Germany Continue to Ride the World Cup Wave
Jogi Löw's men victorious in two comfortable EURO 2012 Qualifying matches
Munich, Oct 13 - On Friday evening in Berlin's Olympic Stadium, the home fans found themselves outnumbered on their own patch as Berlin's Turkish community came out in force to support their side managed by Guus Hiddink.
This fervent 'away' following proved futile as Germany, now ranked the third best team in the world, coasted to a 3-0 victory. Two for Bayern striker Miroslav Klose were sandwiched around a goal for Real Madrid's Mesut Özil which really rubbed salt into Turkish wounds. Son of Turkish parents, Özil was roundly booed throughout the game by Turkish fans upset that he chose Germany ahead of his parents' homeland. His goal celebrations were muted, probably wisely so.
The 'Bayern block' including German captain Philipp Lahm (26), Holger Badstuber (21) ,Toni Kroos (20), Thomas Müller (21), and of course Klose (32) were all in outstanding form, belying the latest crisis of confidence at Bayern, who currently languish in the lower reaches of the Bundesliga.
Such is the Germans' current winning mentality and over-flowing confidence that Bastian Schweinsteiger, arguably Germany's best player at the World Cup, was hardly missed in the double header. Schweinsteiger's position was seamlessly filled by the gifted youngster Kroos.
On Tuesday German lived up to their favourite billing against the minnows of Kazakhstan, world ranked 126. A routine 3-0 victory sees Germany top the group. They have never failed to qualify for a major competition and Euro 2012 certainly now looks to be a formality.
Second-half goals by Miroslav Klose, and Bayern strikers past and present - Lukas Podolski (now at Cologne) and Mario Gomez - sealing an ultimately convincing victory to maintain their 100% win record after four games. Klose added to his Berlin brace with the opener in Kazakhstan to take his tally to 58 goals in 105 games as he homes in on Gerd Müller's all-time German goal-scoring record. The 'Bomber' Müller racked up an astonishing 68 goals in only 62 games for Germany.
Bayern fans would have sighed as their in-form striker Klose trudged off with a thigh injury soon after his opener in Astana. He is doubtful for this Saturday's Bundesliga clash against Hanover alongside Belgium skipper Daniel Van Buyten, who was injured during the warm-up for his country's clash against Austria in Brussels.
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk would have no doubt been pleased to call on his son-in-law and captain Mark van Bommel for both their qualifying victories over Moldova and Sweden.
Bayern would have been less impressed as they had ordered van Bommel to return to Munich so that the full extent of his ongoing knee injury could be ascertained by their medical staff.
Bayern are already involved in protracted legal wranglings with the Dutch Federation (KNVB) over the Arjen Robben injury at the World Cup. This latest incident will do nothing to improve relations. van Bommel was substituted late on and received ice treatment pitch side.
Meanwhile, former Bayern legend Lothar Matthäus had a dream debut as Bulgaria coach with a 1-0 victory over Wales in Cardiff.
And Bayern's former Champions League winning coach Ottmar Hitzfeld also celebrated a first group victory as Switzerland beat whipping boys Wales 4-1.
