Youngster Thomas Mueller may have stolen the show with his brace against England, but his veteran Bayern Munich teammate Miroslav Klose is nevertheless a happy man.
Klose opened the scoring in Sunday’s impressive 4-1 victory as he netted his 50th international goal and drew even with the great Pele on 12 for fourth place in the World Cup’s all-time goal-scorers list.
The now 32-year-old striker started his World Cup career eight years ago with a hat-trick in an 8-0 rout of Saudi Arabia and was top-scorer with five goals at the 2006 edition, which was played on home soil.
Despite his proven record, there were plenty of question marks about his form this time round. That is because Klose spent most of the season on the Bayern Munich bench while Iviva Olic, Arjen Robben and the 20-year-old Mueller took centre stage for the German league and cup champions.
Ahead of the South African tournament, a debate raged in Germany on whether Klose should be picked at all. But coach Joachim Loew tirelessly reiterated that he had faith in the marksman.
“There is no big secret. It is very important that the coach believes in you,” Klose said on Monday.
“It is my strength to be fit when it matters. I know about my quality. It is important to believe in yourself,” he said.
However, Klose has been through quite a roller-coaster in South Africa.
He scored in the opening 4-0 win over Australia, was sent off for an unnecessary tackle in midfield in the 1-0 defeat against Serbia and had to sit out the final group match against Ghana, which Germany won 1-0.
But he was back on Sunday, one of the main tormentors of the sluggish English defence, and was awarded with another goal.
Klose is now the number three all-time German scorer behind Gerd Mueller (68) and East German Joachim Streich (55). Only Brazil’s Ronaldo (15), Mueller (14) and French legend Just Fontaine (13) have scored more goals at the World Cup.
“It is great for a footballer to achieve this. But it is important to have a team that supports you. You don’t score if you don’t get the balls from midfield or from crosses,” Klose said.
He was equally modest about being overlooked for the captaincy, which went to the younger Philipp Lahm instead after Michael Ballack’s injury.
Klose said that Lahm was doing a super job and he was also full of praise for Mueller, Germany’s leading scorer in South Africa with three goals.
“I am happy for the boy, he just goes out and plays,” said Klose.
“I hope he can continue like that. There will be lows coming. But I am not concerned about Thomas Mueller. He hasn’t reached the stage yet where he starts thinking about that.” Despite his age, Klose insists he is “not finished yet” and believes he can make a fresh start in Munich next season.
But first come Argentina in the quarterfinals on Saturday, with the South Americans seeking revenge for their 2006 defeat in the same round on penalties. On that occasion, Klose was again on target by heading the 1-1 equaliser during regulation time.
“We have heard they want revenge for 2006 ... Argentina is better on paper, but that was the case with England as well. The game is decided on the pitch,” said Klose, who is expected to start in what will be his 100th cap for Germany.
Source:- www.thehindu.com
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