Ballack hits out at rival Lahm

Germany midfielder Michael Ballack has hit out at captaincy rival Philipp Lahm, claiming that the defender was wrong to go public on the matter ahead of the World Cup and should have spoken to him personally.

GettyImagesBallack, Lahm and Low: To be reunited

A serious knee injury saw 34-year-old Ballack ruled out of the World Cup, with Lahm taking the captain's armband and leading his side to a third-place finish, but questions have now been raised over who will take charge when Ballack returns to the fold.

The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, who returned to the club after leaving Chelsea in the summer, feels that the issue of the Germany captaincy has been badly handled.

"It is a question of respect towards the captain," Ballack told German daily Express. "I have a clear opinion on this: to focus attention on the issue publicly at that time was wrong.

"If he had spoken to me, it would have left me with a very different impression. We have since spoken briefly. I still maintain you shouldn't do something like that.But we are professionals and something like that should not ever play a role."

Ballack also slammed coach Joachim Low for only announcing in September that the ex-Chelsea star will resume as national captain when he returns for injury next month.

"If he had made the announcement three months before, we would have avoided any unnecessary discussions," he said. "I was hurt, I could not do anything. But I am glad that the national coach made the position clear after the event."

With Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira forming an excellent partnership in his absence, Ballack also admits that he may struggle to assert himself on the side again.

"I will prove myself again, but I feel that at 34 years of age, it will be harder to reach the level to be able to play at the top again," he said. "This is a huge challenge. I also have a commitment to my club Bayer Leverkusen and the fans who expect a lot from me. I will return some of the faith they have placed in me."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAPITAN

Herzlichen Dank für die vielen Glückwünsche zu meinem Geburtstag. Ich habe gesehen, dass ich von Euch sogar einen Kuchen bekommen habe! Gestern Abend habe ich mit meiner Familie im kleinen Kreis gefeiert. Heute hat mir auch noch ein kleiner Fan, der Felix gratuliert, wie Ihr auf dem Bild sehen könnt. Sonntag geht’s gegen den Club. Da werden wir keine Geschenke verteilen. Grüße, Philipp!

Bayern Munich delighted with Lahm

Bayern Munich’s director of sport Christian Nerlinger is delighted that Philipp Lahm has agreed a contract extension to tie him to the club until the summer of 2016.

The 26-year-old Germany wing-back had been a reported target for a number of top clubs across Europe, but Nerlinger says that Lahm was adamant that he was happy to stay put.

Nerlinger told the club’s official website: “It was all done and dusted very quickly.

“We’ve been aware for a long time that a number of top European clubs have shown an interest in signing him, so it was particularly pleasing to hear from day one that he said ‘I want to extend my contract at Bayern Munich’.

“That was at the time we were getting off to a tricky start in the Bundesliga. We were all very pleased and impressed by that.

“I think he feels at home here, both from a personal and professional point of view and that he’s satisfied with the developments at the club.

“Philipp is a great role model and an important personality within the club.”

Philipp Lahm Concedes That Bayern Munich Title Hopes Are Fading

Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm has admitted his side's title hopes are slowly disappearing after a 3-3 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.

Lahm salvaged a point for the Bavarian giants after being down 3-2, with his team having missed a penalty and hitting the post twice.

"We are so many points behind that we cannot afford to drop any more, and we have dropped some here," the German international told AP. "We lost the ball too easily at the start of the second half and this is not the first time this has happened.

"It happened also against Cluj when we just slept for the first 15 minutes of the second half. The same thing happened, only this time we have been punished," he bemoaned.

Philipp Lahm: I See No Reason To Leave Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich full-back Philipp Lahm has indicated his desire to sign a new contract with the Allianz Arena side.

Speaking to the media after die Roten’s comfortable 4-2 victory over Freiburg on Friday night, the German national team captain announced once again that no-one has come forward to offer him a fresh deal, though at the same time he is not pushing for a move away from the club.

“I see no reason to leave the club,” the 26-year-old declared. “There are currently no negotiations with the leaders; we still have time.”

Presently, Lahm is contracted to FCB until the end of 2012, but if he wasn’t to sign a contract before the summer, then clubs could begin to circle the defender with thoughts of offering him a pre-contract agreement in January 2012.

Regarded widely as one of the most talented full-backs in the world game and versatile enough to play on either flank, the diminutive tackler is seen as a prized asset.

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.

Mental burden destroying Bayern Munich - Philipp Lahm Accumulated games played catching up with German giants

Bayern Munich may have beaten rivals Werder Bremen in last night's DFB Pokal second round clash, but die Roten continue to struggle domestically. In an interview, vice-captain Philipp Lahm revealed that the Bavarians' woes are being compounded by the mental burden of an ever-increasing gap between them and leaders Mainz.

"It is the mental effort that is destroying us, because the distance to make up is 12 points," Lahm told Sport-Bild.

Lahm also admitted his personal shortcomings thus far: "I am not playing up to the level I can reach."

As reigning champions and traditional powerhouses of Bundesliga football, Bayern are in the uncharacteristically low table position of 11th place. Their next match will be on Friday as they host Freiburg.

Philipp Lahm Satisfied With A Point After Bayern Munich Draw With Hamburg

Bayern Munich fell further off the pace of the Bundesliga leaders on Friday evening as they were held to a frustrating draw against Hamburg, though Philipp Lahm doesn’t believe the 0-0 scoreline was especially catastrophic.

Head coach Louis van Gaal indicated his belief that his side should have picked up the full complement of point immediately after the game, but Germany captain Lahm has suggested getting anything from the fixture at all should be considered a minor success.

“Obviously, we wanted to come away with the three points, but HSV had a huge chance to win it at the end, so we have to be satisfied with a point. After all, HSV aren’t just any old team,” the defender told his club’s official website in the aftermath of the fixture. “Overall it was a reasonable performance, but we need more determination and precision in the final third.”

Injury-hit Bayern presently lie ninth in the Bundesliga standings, nine points behind Borussia Dortmund and Mainz, having played a game more.

Bayern justify their luck against CFR

Two own goals helped FC Bayern München come from behind to win against CFR 1907 Cluj yet neither Philipp Lahm nor Mario Gómez felt their good fortune was in any way undeserved.

A pair of own goals helped FC Bayern München move to within touching distance of the knockout stages, but Philipp Lahm told UEFA.com the Group E leaders' 3-2 defeat of CFR 1907 Cluj was not purely the fruit of good fortune.

Though CFR captain Cadú opened the scoring for the visitors at the Fußball Arena München, the Romanian side's dreams of ruining Bayern's perfect start to the campaign were cruelly undermined before the break. Cadú and Cristian Panin put through their own goal to turn the game around, handing last season's runners-up a half-time advantage they rarely looked like relinquishing.

"We haven't had much luck in recent weeks but sometimes when you work hard, luck is on your side, and that was the case today," said full-back Lahm, whose team have stuttered in domestic competition and toiled for almost half-an-hour to break down a well-drilled CFR defence. "There are no easy opponents in the Champions League. Cluj had beaten Basel so we knew they were going to be dangerous, and they showed that again over the 90 minutes."

Had Lacina Traoré's shot in the dying seconds of the opening period found the net rather than a post, the outcome might have been different. The fates, however, were decidedly in Bayern's favour as CFR then completed an unwanted hat-trick of unfortunate goals when Felice Piccolo's attempted clearance ricocheted into the net off Mario Gómez.

"Perhaps we have to thank our opponents because they gifted us two goals, perhaps even three, but that's not important. Only the three points count for us," said centre-forward Gómez, whose strike ultimately proved decisive after Juan Culio reduced CFR's deficit four minutes from time. "The goals were lucky, but not the victory. I think we were the better side throughout. Cluj had two or three good chances, but we deserved to win."

The success lifted Bayern six points clear at the top of the section, and a repeat result in Romania on 3 November will assure Louis van Gaal's men of a place in the knockout rounds with two games to spare. "We want to go to Cluj and try to finish it off, though that's not going to be easy," said Lahm, who helped Bayern stretch their unbeaten series against Romanian opposition to seven matches. "We have nine points, we still need three more. I think we're in the perfect position."

Chelsea plan shock right back bid

The current reigning champions of England, Chelsea are reported to be in the works to line up a shock move for Bayern Munich's star player, Philipp Lahm. The Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti who has been a long term admirer of the player has realized that Lahm is just the player that he needs to beef up his Chelsea squad and make it unrepeatable. The manager however is looking to land the player in the January transfer window, but has also admitted that he will not mind waiting till January to relish the services of the German international.

Lahm has been a part of the Bayern Munich side, ever since he was an eleven year old boy. This is of course excluding the two years that he spent at Stuttgart on loan. The player is reported to be ready for a new challenge and apparently it doesn't get any better than a move to Chelsea. Another reason for the player wanting to potentially move away from the club, is due to the fact that Munich are currently in terrible form and have managed to pick up just two wins so far this season. If the team continues to perform this way, it won't be long before there is a major sale at the club, with Lahm leading the line for obvious reasons.

However it is kind of odd to realize just why Chelsea will require a new left back. The team is currently laying witness to Branislav Ivanovic playing in that position and he has so far been rather good at what he does. Nonetheless the manager is still looking to try and lure the side back to the club so that he can have more than just once decent option to play in that position. However the player won't be an easy one to capture, with Munich regarding him to be one of the best players at the club and willing to keep him with them under almost any circumstance.

If the team are to make an official bid for the player, it is by no means going to be a cheap one, the German club side will be looking to get around twenty four million pounds for the player, but with Chelsea having the money to match that estimate, it will be interesting to see what really happens with this situation in the future.

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."

Philipp Lahm Praises Turkey Team Spirit

Ahead of Friday's Euro 2012 qualifier with Turkey, Germany captain Philipp Lahm has hailed his opponents' collective strength.

"There are of course many good individual players, but their greatest strength is certainly the team spirit," the full-back told reporters in a press conference. "That is, everyone is working tirelessly, from one to 11."

Notably, Lahm opted not to use the word 'teamgeist', a term often used by Germans to describe their own collectivism. Nonetheless, he did underline a fundamental similarity between the footballing cultures of both Germany and Turkey.

Germany Captain Philipp Lahm Concerned By Bastian Schweinsteiger Absence In Euro 2012 Qualifiers

Lahm believes some players will have to step up in Schweinsteiger's absence.

Germany captain Philipp Lahm has expressed his anxiety at the absence of midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger for their upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers but believes the squad is strong enough to cope without him.

The Bayern Munich star had to pull out of the squad because of injury and his club team-mate Lahm believes other players will have to step up in his absence.

"His absence will hurt but we have plenty of players who can come in and do a reliable job, as we saw at the World Cup," he said, according to bundesliga.de.

Germany will host Turkey on October 8 before traveling to Kazakhstan four days later.

Blame players for Bayern slump, says Lahm

Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm has urged fans to blame the players for the club's disappointing form.

GettyImages

Philipp Lahm: Bayern are ten points off top spot

Bayern have won only two of their first six Bundesliga matches and are already ten points adrift of league leaders Mainz, who won 2-1 at the Allianz Arena at the weekend.

Club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has defended coach Louis van Gaal and questioned the players and Germany full-back Lahm is in full agreement.

"We have too many players who are performing below their level," he told the Bild newspaper. "If you play like that, then you cannot beat such a euphoric team like Mainz."

Rummenigge has ordered the team to "turn the corner" in tonight's Champions League tie with Basle, a game which Lahm says is now the most important game of the season.

Defeat in Switzerland would increase the media intensity on a club not used to failure.

"We cannot allow that to happen," said Lahm. "We have got to ensure we find our true form immediately. It is going to be really tough for us now to make up this ten-point deficit on Mainz and that is not what we wanted."

Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm: We can't afford to drop any more points

Bayern Munich full-back Philipp Lahm has warned his side not to drop any points from now on if they want to successfully defend their German Bundesliga title.

Last season's Champions League finalists have made a disappointing start to the 2010-11 campaign and are currently eighth in the league with just eights points from five matches.

Lahm has urged his team-mates to find it within themselves to garner maximum points against league leaders Mainz at the Allianz Arena despite missing key players Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

"We already showed last season that we could play well and win without Franck and Arjen Robben," Lahm is quoted as saying by AFP. "That has to be our objective once again in the new few weeks. "We've already wasted too many points. We have to beat Mainz, otherwise the gap at the top will be simply too big."
Bayern coach Louis van Gaal also underlined the significance of beating Mainz.
"They have great confidence in themselves, they don't hold anything back. But being the leader in September doesn't mean anything."

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.

Bayern Munich sporting director Christian Nerlinger: Philipp Lahm & Bastian Schweinsteiger not for sale at any price

Germany internationals Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm have been linked with moves away from Bayern Munich on more than one occasion during the summer transfer window, but sporting director Christian Nerlinger has dashed any plans they had of leaving the club.



Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho hasn't given up on signing Schweinsteiger and is reportedly eager to lure the midfielder to the Primera Division next season.


However, Nerlinger has now made it clear that Lahm and Schweinsteiger are not for sale.

"Schweinsteiger is not for sale at any price! It doesn't matter what club makes an offer for him. We simply won't allow him to leave," Nerlinger was quoted as saying by Bild.

"The same thing counts for Lahm. We are looking to build a team around a number of key players and we simply don't want to sell any one of those players."

Schweinsteiger has a contract until the summer of 2012 with Bayern, and Real Madrid are supposedly hopeful that the Bavarians will cash in on the midfielder next summer in order to prevent him from leaving on a free in 2012. Nerlinger is clearly having other plans with the Germany international though.

"I am confident that Bastian will sign a contract extension with Bayern in the near future," Nerlinger finished.

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.

Joachim Loew Pleased With Germany's Attacking Chemistry

Germany coach Joachim Loew and skipper Philipp Lahm were thoroughly satisfied with tonight's 6-1 victory over Azerbaijan, although Manuel Neuer had a caveat.

By Clark Whitney

Sep 7, 2010 5:53:00 PM

 

Germany head coach Joachim Loew hailed his team for its offensive quality and ruthless nose for goal following an emphatic 6-1 victory over Azerbaijan in tonight's Euro 2012 qualifier.

"The team has some great chemistry," Loew told reporters. "It's fun to see this chemistry again. It's also a good thing that we did not stop after going ahead 3-0, but continued to go for even more."

Skipper Philipp Lahm echoed his coach's sentiments, "Six goals were scored, so we can be satisfied. Our team has to play for fun and score goals. In spite of conceding a goal, we can all be satisfied."

One player who was not entirely satisfied was goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who made a howler that led to Azerbaijan's consolation goal.

"We wanted to keep a clean sheet," the Schalke goalkeeper said. "The goal was just stupid. It's obviously annoying."

In spite of his own self-criticism, Neuer was pleased with the result overall.

"We have carried on the spirit of South Africa. I hope it continues."
Germany, who placed third at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, have won both of their Euro 2012 qualifiers, and lead Group A. They resume their qualifying campaign next month with matches against Turkey and Kazakhstan.