Germany's national side (DFB) have convincingly won their third qualifier for the European Championships in 2008. In Bratislava, the DFB selection beat Slovakia 4:1 (3:0) with goals from Lukas Podolski (2), Michael Ballack and Bastian Schweinsteiger. German coach Jogi Loew opted to start with all three Werder Bremen players available to him with Miroslav Klose, Torsten frings and Clemens Fritz all playing the full 90 minutes.
Fritz was delighted about his second game in the German shirt and his first full, non-friendly debut: “Most important is that the team won the game but I was also satisfied with my own performance tonight. It’s really a lot of fun. We delegate one another on the pitch, everyone helps everyone else. It’s nice for me that it worked out with two wins in my first two games. I’m interested to see how things continue now in the national team.”
At the Tehelne Pole Stadium in Bratislava, 12,000 spectators saw the visitors take control of the tie very early on. The first real opening fell to Michael Ballack in the 10th minute with a shot that zipped over the crossbar. Soon after Lukas Podolski was on hand to give Germany a 1:0 lead. Bernd Schneider, gaining his 75th cap, fed Klose who skipped through to the by-line and pulled a pass back behind the Slovakian back line to Podolski who scored with a well placed shot (13’).
Despite a headed effort from Robert Vittek two minutes later, the guests maintained their high tempo and in the 18th minute Klose climbed to meet a Podolski cross but headed just over the bar from close range. Shortly afterwards Michael Ballack pounced to convert with his head as he beat the off-side trap to meet a Philip Lahm cross – 2:0 (25’). It was Ballack’s 34th goal in the German shirt which sees him move up to eight place in the all time best scorer rankings for his country.
Before the break, Bastian Schweinsteiger extended the visitors lead to 3:0 when he quickly reacted to Slovakian keeper Kamil Contofalsky’s inability to hold a Ballack drive and converted easily (36’).
After the break, the German’s took their foot off the pedal and allowed the hosts to come at them. The guests passivity was punished in the 58th minute as Stanislav Varga rose to head home a Jan Kozak free-kick. It proved to be the first goal conceded for the German side since the initiation of Loew as coach.
It took the World Cup third placed side until the 72nd to find an answer and finally settle the tie. Schweinsteiger played Klose through and the Werder striker powered into the box before selflessly passing across to Podolski who in turn made the score 4:1. The young Bayern Munich player has now scored 22 goals in his young career.
In Group D, Germany, on nine points, lie in second place behind the Czech Republic. The Czech’s, who could only manage a 1:1 (0:0) draw in Dublin against Ireland have a on point advantage but have also played a game more.
Johnnie Muldoon