Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski capped his full return to the German shirt with a superb goal eight minutes from time to seal the 3-1 friendly win over Romania on Wednesday night. The 22-year-old, voted the best young player at last year's World Cup, only returned to the Bayern side after a long-term knee injury ten days ago, but showed he is back in form by rifling his shot home to seal the win.
Podolski came off the bench late in last Saturday's 2-0 Euro 2008 qualifier win over Wales in Cardiff, but played the full 90 minutes in Cologne to score his first international goal for ten months. Super sub David Odonkor had earlier put Germany ahead just five minutes after coming off the bench as the Real Betis forward smashed home his first international goal on 65 minutes as Germany came from behind to dominate.
The Romanians, who top Group G, got off to a great start when defender Dorin Goian put them into an early lead before German captain Bernd Schneider put the hosts level with a bullet header just before the break. After his side's impressive in Cardiff which underlined their status as Group D leaders, German coach Joachim Loew gave several fringe players their chance. Podolski partnered second-division side Cologne striker Patrick Helmes up front.
But there was plenty of experience in midfield with Schneider making his 80th appearance alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger, the man-of-the-match in Cardiff. The home side fell behind when an inch-perfect cross fell to the feet of unmarked Goian who stabbed his shot past Timo Hildebrand after just three minutes.
But Schweinsteiger whipped in a cross three minutes before the break for captain Schneider to score with a bullet-header to put the Germans level. The home side squandered a host of chances, including close efforts by Podolski and Helmes, before Schneider's substitution made way for Odonkor to make his mark and then Podolski capped the win with his superb strike.
More Information about the "Mannschaft can be found here
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Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski capped his full return to the German shirt with a superb goal eight minutes from time to seal the 3-1 friendly win over Romania on Wednesday night. The 22-year-old, voted the best young player at last year's World Cup, only returned to the Bayern side after a long-term knee injury ten days ago, but showed he is back in form by rifling his shot home to seal the win.
Podolski came off the bench late in last Saturday's 2-0 Euro 2008 qualifier win over Wales in Cardiff, but played the full 90 minutes in Cologne to score his first international goal for ten months. Super sub David Odonkor had earlier put Germany ahead just five minutes after coming off the bench as the Real Betis forward smashed home his first international goal on 65 minutes as Germany came from behind to dominate.
The Romanians, who top Group G, got off to a great start when defender Dorin Goian put them into an early lead before German captain Bernd Schneider put the hosts level with a bullet header just before the break. After his side's impressive in Cardiff which underlined their status as Group D leaders, German coach Joachim Loew gave several fringe players their chance. Podolski partnered second-division side Cologne striker Patrick Helmes up front.
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But there was plenty of experience in midfield with Schneider making his 80th appearance alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger, the man-of-the-match in Cardiff. The home side fell behind when an inch-perfect cross fell to the feet of unmarked Goian who stabbed his shot past Timo Hildebrand after just three minutes.
But Schweinsteiger whipped in a cross three minutes before the break for captain Schneider to score with a bullet-header to put the Germans level. The home side squandered a host of chances, including close efforts by Podolski and Helmes, before Schneider's substitution made way for Odonkor to make his mark and then Podolski capped the win with his superb strike.
More Information about the "Mannschaft can be found here
