Despite the influence of Werder Bremen trio Miroslav Klose, Torsten Frings and Clemens Fritz, the World Cups third place side could only manage a 1:1 (1:1) draw in Cyprus.
Despite the influence of Werder Bremen trio Miroslav Klose, Torsten Frings and Clemens Fritz, the World Cups third place side could only manage a 1:1 (1:1) draw in Cyprus.
Despite the influence of Werder Bremen trio Miroslav Klose, Torsten Frings and Clemens Fritz, the World Cups third place side could only manage a 1:1 (1:1) draw in Cyprus. Defender Per Mertesacker was also in the German squad but played no part during the match. The draw gave Joachim Loew’s side ten points from three games and returned to the top of the Euro 2008 qualifying Group D. On the negative side for the DFB eleven- yellow cards picked up by Miroslav Klose and Clemens Fritz mean the Werder duo will be suspended and miss the next tie against the groups second place team Czech Republic.
The draw doesn’t change the fact that 2006 will finish as the most successful year in the countries 98 year history. The record reads 14 wins, two draws and only two defeats – against Italy at the beginning of the year (4:1) and again against the Italians in the World Cup semi-final (2:0).
In the fifteenth minute, Torsten Frings touched a free-kick to captain Michael Ballack, who was also winning his 75th cap. The Chelsea midfielder dummied Konstantinos Makridis and struck a low powerful shot from 20 meters into the bottom right corner – 1:0.
From a deflected cross by David Odonkor, Bastian Schweinsteiger collected the ball on the left and powered into the box but unfortunately slammed his shot against the legs of the on-rushing keeper Antonis Georgallides.
Shortly before the break the Cypriots drew level. Goal getter Yiannis Okkas lashed home a strong volley which didn’t appear unstoppable for Timo Hildebrand, who was filling in for the ill first choice keeper Jens Lehmann.
In the 64th minute, Efstashios Aloneftis came close to giving the home side the lead with a clever lob. Three minutes later Schweinsteiger had his effort cleared off the line by defender Lambros Lambrou. In the second half the German trainer brought VfL Wolfsburg man Mike Hanke for Oliver Neuville and Stuttgart’s Thomas Hitzlsperger in place of the disappointing David Odonkor (Betis Seville).
The match in Cyprus was the final international appointment of 2006. On 24.03.2007, Germany will kick-off their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign again against the Czech Republic.
