Germany on Saturday kept their 100 per cent record in their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a 4-0 victory in their Group A match against Kazakhstan in Kaiserslautern.
Miroslav Klose and two goals by World Cup top scorer Thomas Mueller put the game beyond the visitors by half-time and although Kazakhstan managed to do some damage control in the second half, a German victory was never in doubt and Klose added another two minutes from the end.
Germany captain Philipp Lahm said that they had taken another step towards the finals. "I think there were phases where we were good, but there was also times when it was not so good.
"We still have some difficult games ahead and some things can go wrong, but I think we should make sure of qualifying for the finals."
Klose, who is rapidly closing in on Gerd Mueller's record as top German scorer, put Germany ahead in the third minute after being set up following a free-kick.
It was Klose's 60th goal for his country, leaving him eight shy of Gerd Mueller's record.
In the 25th minute another free-kick allowed Mueller a free header that gave goalkeeper David Loriya no chance.
Klose then came close to scoring a third for Germany three minutes later, but Loriya did well to deny the Bayern Munich striker from close range.
Two minutes from the break the home crowd had more to cheer about as Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Oezil found Mueller looking for the ball in the area and Mueller chested the ball down before beating Loriya from 16 metres.
In the second half, Germany sat back a bit more, content in the knowledge that there was no way back for Kazakhstan.
Klose scored his 61st international goal two minutes from the end with a simple tap-in from a Sami Khedira cross.
Klose, who has been spending most of the season on the bench at Bayern Munich, said he was happy to score in Kaiserslautern, where he played for several seasons.
"It is a nice feeling to score early and late in the game. This is my home here, all my family live here and I am always very glad to come home."
The 4-0 win sees Germany move to 15 points from their five games and they have a eight point lead over Belgium and Austria, who are both on seven points, though Austria has played one game less.
Miroslav Klose and two goals by World Cup top scorer Thomas Mueller put the game beyond the visitors by half-time and although Kazakhstan managed to do some damage control in the second half, a German victory was never in doubt and Klose added another two minutes from the end.
Germany captain Philipp Lahm said that they had taken another step towards the finals. "I think there were phases where we were good, but there was also times when it was not so good.
"We still have some difficult games ahead and some things can go wrong, but I think we should make sure of qualifying for the finals."
Klose, who is rapidly closing in on Gerd Mueller's record as top German scorer, put Germany ahead in the third minute after being set up following a free-kick.
It was Klose's 60th goal for his country, leaving him eight shy of Gerd Mueller's record.
In the 25th minute another free-kick allowed Mueller a free header that gave goalkeeper David Loriya no chance.
Klose then came close to scoring a third for Germany three minutes later, but Loriya did well to deny the Bayern Munich striker from close range.
Two minutes from the break the home crowd had more to cheer about as Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Oezil found Mueller looking for the ball in the area and Mueller chested the ball down before beating Loriya from 16 metres.
In the second half, Germany sat back a bit more, content in the knowledge that there was no way back for Kazakhstan.
Klose scored his 61st international goal two minutes from the end with a simple tap-in from a Sami Khedira cross.
Klose, who has been spending most of the season on the bench at Bayern Munich, said he was happy to score in Kaiserslautern, where he played for several seasons.
"It is a nice feeling to score early and late in the game. This is my home here, all my family live here and I am always very glad to come home."
The 4-0 win sees Germany move to 15 points from their five games and they have a eight point lead over Belgium and Austria, who are both on seven points, though Austria has played one game less.
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