Spain, Germany dominate Ballon d'Or nominations

FIFA World Cup champion Spain had seven players nominated for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, followed by Germany with five, as the two countries combined for 12 of the 23 selections announced Tuesday.

Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, David Villa and Xavi were nominated from Spain, while Miroslav Klose, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger were picked from Germany.

Klose, Lahm, Muller and Schweinsteiger also appeared in the Champions League final for Bayern Munich, a 2-0 defeat to Inter Milan. Milan's Wesley Sneijder as well as Dutch teammate Arjen Robben - who led the Netherlands to the World Cup final - of Bayern also made the list.

Argentina's Lionel Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo - the last two FIFA World Players of the Year - also made the list but are not favored to capture the award this season.

No English player made the list, and just three from the Premier League - Cesc Fabregas, Didier Drogba and Asamoah Gyan - were nominated.

All of the nominations played in the World Cup, and nine of them also appeared in the UEFA Champions League final.

The FIFA Ballon d'Or will be awarded for the first time, as the former FIFA World Player of the Year award and Ballon d'Or were combined. Three finalists will be announced on Dec. 6, with the winner announced Jan. 10.

Brazil's Marta and Germany's Birgit Prin, who have combined to claim the last seven women's FIFA World Player of the Year awards, are among the 10 finalists again this year.

Awards for the best men's and women's coach were also be given this year, with Spain's Vincente del Bosque, who led his team to the World Cup title, and Jose Mourinho, who led Inter to the Champions League title, among the nominations on the men's side.

Following are all the men's FIFA Ballon d'Or nominations:

Argentina - Lionel Messi; Brazil - Daniel Alves, Julio Cesar, Maicon; Cameroon - Samuel Eto'o; Germany - Miroslav Klose, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil, Bastian Schweinsteiger; Ghana - Asamoah Gyan; Ivory Coast - Didier Drogba; Netherlands - Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder; Portugal - Cristiano Ronaldo; Spain - Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, David Villa, Xavi; Uruguay - Diego Forlan.

Lahm ensures Germany enjoy home comforts

Germany fans may have seemed to be in the minority against Turkey in Berlin, but captain Philipp Lahm was delighted "to celebrate a 3-0 win with those who were here" after another victory.


It may have felt like an away match at times for Germany as they hosted Turkey in Berlin, but a pair of goals from Miroslav Klose and one more from Mesut Özil ensured Joachim Löw's side left the Olympiastadion with a smile on their faces following a third straight win in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group A.

"It was a great atmosphere," said Germany captain Philipp Lahm, whose pass set up Özil for the second goal. " Of course we would have liked there to have been more German fans, but in the end we were able to celebrate a 3-0 win with those who were here. We had to push Turkey and we did really well in the first half."

It was a particularly special game for Özil given his Turkish roots, and the midfielder provided a spark of creativity as well as the all-important second goal with 11 minutes to play. Özil's former FC Schalke 04 team-mate Halil Altıntop lamented: "I'm happy things are going so well for him, but he did not have to score today. It was great to see so many Turkish supporters here. It was not really an away match. Unfortunately, we could not seize the opportunity." Not that Özil had things all his own way, as a knock to his right ankle took the shine off an otherwise perfect evening and puts him in doubt for Tuesday's qualifier in Kazakhstan.

Klose opened the scoring on 42 minutes to give substance to Germany's superiority, but lone Turkey striker Halil Altıntop could have brought his side level when clean through on Manuel Neuer's goal eight minutes after the restart. It took a terrific save from the Germany No1 to deny him, yet Halil Altıntop felt Germany were the stronger team regardless.

"It wasn't a key moment as Germany were clearly the dominant side," he said. "They were deserved winners, but maybe by one goal too many. It was very difficult to play as a lone striker against this Germany team."

Halil's brother Hamit added: "We have to say Germany were better than we were. We lack a bit of experience and understanding. We were solid in defence but lacked courage going forward.  We are disappointed but we knew we would suffer setbacks. There is always the return match."

It was the first time Turkey had dropped points in the section, leaving them level with Austria and three behind Germany, for whom this was a third straight victory. "This was the strongest opponent in the group and it's not easy to get a result against them, but we did it today and nine points from three matches is a perfect start," forward Thomas Müller said. "Now we have a small edge, but it will be worth nothing if we don't win against Kazakhstan. If we do that, things will be looking quite good."

Mehmet Aurélio, meanwhile, will miss Turkey's game in Azerbaijan on Tuesday after being carried off with a hamstring injury in the 24th minute.

Germany crushes Turkey in Euro 2012 qualifier

 Germany were firing on all cyclinders against Turkey

Germany's national soccer team beat Turkey 3-1 in Friday night's European Championship qualification match. The win in Berlin lifted Germany three points clear at the top of Group A.

Miroslav Klose scored Germany's first goal in the 42nd minute. Eleven minutes before the final whistle, midfielder Mesut Oezil, got Germany's second. Klose then added another goal later in the second half to seal an emphatic victory in front of more than 74,000 fans at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
Germany next face Kazakhstan on Tuesday for their next EURO 2012 clash.
"The team showed they really wanted this and we have earned a deserved victory," said Germany national coach Joachim Loew.
"I hadn't expected to win by such a big amount, because it was always going to be a difficult game. For the Turks, the game was always going to be a matter of honor," said Loew.

 

Oezil is congratulated by Thomas Mueller, right, after scoring during the Euro 2012 qualifier

Kazakhstan beckons 
With a maximum nine out of nine points, Germany are now in firm control of Group A, ahead of next Tuesday's encounter when Loew's side face Kazakhstan.
For Turkey's new national coach, Dutchman Guus Hiddink, his team are now placed second on six. Friday's 3-0 drubbing in Berlin was Turkey's first defeat of the qualifying campaign. Hiddink used to coach Russia's national side, which, like Turkey, failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Strongest opponent           
"It is impressive how well the team is playing at the moment," said captain Philipp Lahm, adding that the team had defeated their strongest opponent in the group.
"It has been the perfect start, but now we need to build on it for our next game on Tuesday (against Kazakhstan)," Lahm said.

Turkish PM Erdogan watched the game with Merkel in Berlin

Born and bred              
The German-born Oezil, who signed with Real Madrid from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen at the start of this season, was booed by Turkish fans who made up more than half of the 74,000 soccer fans in Berlin's Olympic Stadium. Oezil, however, silenced his tormentors with a 79th-minute goal to seal the win.
Veteran striker Miroslav Klose opening the scoring just before half-time and the Bayern Munich star slotted his second on 87 minutes.
The 32-year-old's second just before the final whistle was his 57th goal in his 104th international, passing Franz Beckenbauer's mark of 103, to put him clear second behind Gerd
Mueller's all-time record is 68 goals for Germany.                    
"Although I have now over-taken Franz Beckenbauer in terms of the number of international matches, there will always be something special about the Beckenbauer name," Klose said.
"We are all happy that we managed to win the game. I have to compliment our fans, one heard them even though there were so many Turkish fans. After our first two goals they took over with their singing," Klose said.

 

Oezil and Turkey's Mehmet Aurelio challenge for the ball

Turkey should have equalized in the 53rd minute when a defensive error from Lukas Podolski saw Halil Altintop have a free run at Manuel Neuer, but the Schalke goalkeeper managed a world-class save with his left leg, pushing the ball away for a corner.
World Cup form
Germany's captain Lahm said he was proud of his team.
"Nine points is a perfect start. We can't do more. But all of that does not matter if we do not manage another win on Tuesday," Lahm said.
Mueller, meanwhile, compared the performance with that at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where Germany finished third.
"It was a good performance from the team," Mueller said.  "We managed to take the euphoria from the World Cup with us and now we have a small lead from the other teams."

Ballack facing tough battle

Thu, Sep 9th, 2010 4:17 pm BdST Dial 2000 from your GP mobile for latest news


Berlin, Sept 9 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - Germany were at their dazzling best when they crushed Azerbaijan 6-1 to continue their perfect start to Euro 2012 qualifying on Tuesday, sending out a clear message that absent captain Michael Ballack is not being missed.

Germany's fast-paced style and the clinical finishing that was so impressive in their exciting run to the World Cup third spot in July was again evident in Cologne.
"We are having fun, enjoying football and scoring goals," said defender Philipp Lahm.

The 33-year-old Ballack, who missed the World Cup due to an ankle injury and has yet to be recalled because of a lack of match practice, faces a tough battle to get back into Joachim Loew's side.

"It's fun watching this team play. You really feel that the team is well-oiled," Loew told reporters after the game.

"The combinations work very well."

It is difficult to see how Loew, who earlier in the week said Ballack was still part of his plans, could integrate him in this fast and young team with holding midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger, 26, and Sami Khedira, 23, in superb form.

While being confirmed as captain, Ballack has also been told he will need to win back his starting spot at the expense of one of the two midfielders - an unlikely prospect at present.

Real Madrid's gifted Mesut Ozil has also successfully taken over some of the playmaking duties further down the pitch of the Bayer Leverkusen captain, who opted not to attend the match in Cologne.


"Even after such a game, I still believe there is room for improvement," said striker Miroslav Klose, who netted twice in the game to join Joachim Streich with 55 goals in second place on Germany's top scorers list, behind Gerd Mueller.

"There is still a bit missing in our stamina so it is important not to rest and take that next step," he said, with the Bundesliga having only seen two matchdays so far.

Germany next host Turkey, who have also won two out of two games in Group A, on Oct 8 in Berlin. With Ballack having turned 34 by then, his time in the team could be running out faster than a Germany attack.

Klose scores twice as Germany routs Azerbaijan 6-1 in Euro qualifying

By The Associated Press (CP) – 5 hours ago

COLOGNE, Germany — Miroslav Klose scored twice Tuesday as Germany routed Azerbaijan 6-1 for its second victory in qualifying for the 2012 European Championship.

Defender Heiko Westermann scored in the 28th, Lukas Podolski doubled the lead in the 45th and Klose added the third in first-half injury time.

An own-goal by Rashed Sadygov made it 4-0 in the 53rd before Azerbaijan found the right net in the 57th through a huge mistake by Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who fumbled a corner cross from Vagif Javadov.

Holder Badstuber's header in the 86th made it 5-1, and Klose completed the victory in injury time.

Klose pulled level with Franz Beckenbauer with 103 Germany games. Only three others have played more games — Lothar Matthaeus (150), Juergen Klinsmann (108) and Juergen Kohler (105).

Klose' two goals gave him 55 in a decade of playing for Germany, second on the all-time list behind Gerd Mueller with 68. Klose also scored the only goal in Germany's 1-0 win in Belgium at the start of its Group A qualifying.

"We are still warming up, we are still not at our best so early in the season," Klose said. "We got more confidence at the World Cup, but it's important to make the next step now."

In its first game at home since finishing third at the World Cup in South Africa, Germany dominated from the opening whistle, with Azerbaijan often fielding all 11 men behind the ball.

Azerbaijan goalkeeper Kamran Agayev made a tremendous reflex save on the line, stopping Westermann's header off a corner after 25 minutes as Germany stepped up the pressure.

But Westermann, an early substitute for the injured Per Mertesacker, scored two minutes later after being set up by Klose following a cross from Philipp Lahm. Westermann's first effort from three meters out was blocked by Agayev, but Westermann fired the rebound into the roof of the net.

Klose nearly doubled the lead in the 33rd with his backheel from close range, but Agayev again saved, this time with his foot.

Germany's dominance finally paid off at the end of first halftime with two late goals.

Podolski swapped passes with Mesut Oezil to split open the Azeri defence and slotted the ball inside the left post.

In injury time, Klose was set up by Podolski and scored unmarked from close range.

Sadygov diverted a cross from Sami Khedira into his own net before Neuer's mistake gave Azerbaijan its only goal.

Germany finished strong with two late goals.

"We passed the ball very well," Germany coach Joachim Loew said. "We did not stop attacking even after scoring the first three goals. They defended very deep, in their own penalty area."

Azerbaijan's German coach, Berti Vogts, said his team was "too passive."

"Germany is in another league," Vogts said.

Germany and Turkey both have two wins in their first two qualifying games in Group A.

___

Lineups:

Germany: Manuel Neuer; Sascha Riether, Per Mertesacker (Heiko Westermann, 11), Holger Badstuber, Philipp Lahm, Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger (Cacau, 78), Thomas Mueller (Marko Marin, 62), Mesut Oezil, Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose.

Azerbaijan: Kamran Agayev; Maksim Medvedev, Rashad Ferhad Sadygov, Sasha Yunisoglu (Vurgun Huseynov, 56), Elnur Allahverdiyev, Vagif Javadov, Mahir Shukurov, Vugar Nadyrov (Araz Abdullayev, 86), Rail Melikov, Alexandr Chertoganov (Rashad Abulfaz Sadygov, 64), Samir Abbasov.

Bayern Munchen Star Miroslav Klose To Join Champions League Winners Inter Milan?

Angela Asante, August 19th, 2010

Due to Arjen Robben and Ivica Olic’s unavailability through injury, striker Miroslav Klose is expected to start alone upfront for Bayern Munich when his side opens the 2010/2011 German Bundesliga season with a match against Wolfsburg on Friday.

Now ahead of this encounter, Klose has become subject to transfer issues. It has been reported that the German forward, who is yet to break "Fat" Ronaldo’s FIFA World Cup goal record, is being eyed by UEFA Champions League titleholders Inter Milan.

Italian media Tuttomercatoweb declared that the Nerazzurri are looking to fill the gap created by the selling of Mario Balotelli to Manchester City. Inter Milan Coach Rafael Benitez reportedly has complaints over Brazilian striker Philippe Coutinho who has been used as a supplementary player in this position.

It is believed that the former Liverpool boss has set his eyes on Miroslav Klose and a deal could be imminent since the Bayern Munich player only has one year left on his contract. Having scored only three goals last season for Bayern, Miroslav Klose endured an unimpressive run of matches throughout the 2009/2010 campaign with his club.