All-time World Cup leading goalscorer Miroslav Klose has kept close to the Germany national team after their return from the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Klose told BILD-Zeitung that he spoke on the phone to Germany manager Joachim Löw "only a couple of weeks ago." However, a possible comeback "isn’t on the cards" according to the striker and wasn’t discussed with his former boss, but Klose didn’t rule it out completely: "You should never say never."
The 37-year-old, along with captain Philipp Lahm and central defender Per Mertesacker, announced his retirement from international football following Germany’s victory last summer. His 71 national goals are the most in Die Mannschaft’s history, and with 137 caps he is Germany’s second-most-capped player ever, behind Lothar Matthäus (150 caps).
Klose, who has just extended his contract with Lazio of Rome to 2016, added that he was "happy that I’ve not had any injuries up to now. But for my 37th birthday I got a text from Basti Schweinsteiger which began 'Hello, old codger'." He answered "that I only started playing for Bayern when as a pensioner – I only really began my professional career at 21, and therefore I’m allowed to carry playing a little longer now."
"Müller is capable of great things"
With 16 goals across four tournaments, Klose is the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cups. But he believes that one of his ex-teammates is more than capable of breaking his record. "Thomas Müller can do it. He’s already got ten World Cup goals. If he can stay fit – and I’m just assuming this – he’ll play at least two more tournaments. He’s got an eye for goal," said Klose, before adding with a smile: "And he also takes penalties. I was never allowed to do that."
All-time World Cup leading goalscorer Miroslav Klose has kept close to the Germany national team after their return from the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Klose told BILD-Zeitung that he spoke on the phone to Germany manager Joachim Löw "only a couple of weeks ago." However, a possible comeback "isn’t on the cards" according to the striker and wasn’t discussed with his former boss, but Klose didn’t rule it out completely: "You should never say never."
The 37-year-old, along with captain Philipp Lahm and central defender Per Mertesacker, announced his retirement from international football following Germany’s victory last summer. His 71 national goals are the most in Die Mannschaft’s history, and with 137 caps he is Germany’s second-most-capped player ever, behind Lothar Matthäus (150 caps).
Klose, who has just extended his contract with Lazio of Rome to 2016, added that he was "happy that I’ve not had any injuries up to now. But for my 37th birthday I got a text from Basti Schweinsteiger which began 'Hello, old codger'." He answered "that I only started playing for Bayern when as a pensioner – I only really began my professional career at 21, and therefore I’m allowed to carry playing a little longer now."
"Müller is capable of great things"
With 16 goals across four tournaments, Klose is the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cups. But he believes that one of his ex-teammates is more than capable of breaking his record. "Thomas Müller can do it. He’s already got ten World Cup goals. If he can stay fit – and I’m just assuming this – he’ll play at least two more tournaments. He’s got an eye for goal," said Klose, before adding with a smile: "And he also takes penalties. I was never allowed to do that."
