With a performance that could only really be considered totally convincing during particular periods of the game, the German national team took a very important step towards participation...
With a performance that could only really be considered totally convincing during particular periods of the game, the German national team took a very important step towards participation...
With a performance that could only really be considered totally convincing during particular periods of the game, the German national team took a very important step towards participation in the 2010 World Cup on Saturday evening. Coach Joachim Löw’s side beat Russia, who are probably their toughest opponent in the group, 2-1 (2-0) to confirm their place at the top of Group 4..
At a capacity filled stadium in Dortmund, Lukas Podolski (9’) and captain Michael Ballack (28’) gave the home side a 2-0 lead going into the break, but shortly after the re-start, Andre Arschavin pulled a goal back for Russia and threw the tie wide open (51’). Werder’s Per Mertesacker was in the DFB starting eleven and performed solidly over the complete 90 minutes. Torsten Frings was somewhat surprisingly left on the bench until the 84th minute, when he came on to replace Thomas Hitzlsperger in midfield. Neither Clemens Fritz nor Tim Wiese played a part on the night.
