Lukas Podolski scored two goals as Germany continued their perfect start to the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with a resounding 4-1 Group D win over Slovakia in Bratislava on Wednesday.
Slovakia had beat Wales 5-1 in their last qualifier but
Germany scored twice in the first 25 minutes to silence the home crowd as they strolled to victory. Germany have a maximum nine points and lie second in the group behind the Czech Republic, who drew 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, having played one game less.
The 21-year-old Podolski opened the scoring on 13 minutes
side-footing in after a fantastic cut-back from strike partner
Miroslav Klose. Klose was one of four regulars rested against Georgia last Saturday and their freshness showed in an energetic opening.
Germany captain Michael Ballack doubled the lead on 25 minutes
meeting Philipp Lahm's centre with a diving header. Bastian Schweinsteiger added a third in the 36th minute. Slovakia, who had also thrashed Cyprus 6-1, looked devoid of
ideas and midfielder Marek Mintal (1. FC Nürnberg), top-scorer of the Bundesliga in 2005, was starved of service.
The hosts did not have a meaningful opening until the start of
the second half when Robert Vittek fired over the crossbar from an acute angle. However defender Stanislav Varga pulled one back for Slovakia on 58 minutes - the first goal Germany had conceded under new manager Joachim Low. But Podolski struck again in the 71st minute rolling into an empty net after Klose had again done all the hard work for him.
Low, who took over from Jurgen Klinsmann after the World Cup, has won his first five matches in charge and hopes to make it six in the next qualifier against Cyprus on November 15.
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[bild1]Lukas Podolski scored two goals as Germany continued their perfect start to the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with a resounding 4-1 Group D win over Slovakia in Bratislava on Wednesday.
Slovakia had beat Wales 5-1 in their last qualifier but
Germany scored twice in the first 25 minutes to silence the home crowd as they strolled to victory. Germany have a maximum nine points and lie second in the group behind the Czech Republic, who drew 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, having played one game less.
The 21-year-old Podolski opened the scoring on 13 minutes
side-footing in after a fantastic cut-back from strike partner
Miroslav Klose. Klose was one of four regulars rested against Georgia last Saturday and their freshness showed in an energetic opening.
Germany captain Michael Ballack doubled the lead on 25 minutes
meeting Philipp Lahm's centre with a diving header. Bastian Schweinsteiger added a third in the 36th minute. Slovakia, who had also thrashed Cyprus 6-1, looked devoid of
ideas and midfielder Marek Mintal (1. FC Nürnberg), top-scorer of the Bundesliga in 2005, was starved of service.
[bild2]The hosts did not have a meaningful opening until the start of
the second half when Robert Vittek fired over the crossbar from an acute angle. However defender Stanislav Varga pulled one back for Slovakia on 58 minutes - the first goal Germany had conceded under new manager Joachim Low. But Podolski struck again in the 71st minute rolling into an empty net after Klose had again done all the hard work for him.
Low, who took over from Jurgen Klinsmann after the World Cup, has won his first five matches in charge and hopes to make it six in the next qualifier against Cyprus on November 15.
