Germany’s final competitive fixture of 2010 against Kazakhstan garnered the desired result – though it was a well-earned victory. The 3-0 result may have made things look convincing, but for the first forty-eight minutes the unheralded Kazakhs gave as good as they got, and even threatened the German goal on occasion.
After a goalless first half which saw the Mannschaft well on top in terms of possession, they took the lead three minutes after the restart with that man Miroslav Klose scoring his sixth goal in four games, taking him ten behind the great Gerd Müller on fifty-eight. The man may have lost his scoring boots for Bayern, but put him in the Schwarz und Weiß and he simply comes alive. Unfortunately, Klose suffered a slight hamstring twinge not long afterwards, and was replaced by another Bayern striker going through a barren spell, Mario Gómez.
Having not scored in a competitive fixture for three years and seemingly unable to hit a Bierkeller door from five yards for the currently misfiring Münch’ner, Gómez finally got on the scoresheet with a fine goal to make the score 3-0, before Lukas Podolski – another man who can perform miracles for Nationaltrainer Jogi Löw – scored a stunning third to round things off in fine style. Poldi once again had had a point to prove after what had been a dreadful outing against Turkey four days earlier – and he responded in his own inimitably bullish fashion by charging from the touchline past half a dozen leaden-footed Kazakhs before drilling the ball into the back of the net. In addition to his wonderful third goal – his forty-second in eighty-three games – he also made the other two.
More detailed minute-by-minute report to follow.
v Kazakhstan, Astana-Arena, Astana, 12.10.2010
3-0 (0-0)
Klose 48., Gómez 76., Podolski 85. / –
Team: Neuer – Lahm, Mertesacker, Badstuber, Westermann – Khedira, Kroos – Müller (71. Marin), Özil (79. Cacau), Podolski – Klose (55. Gómez)
Referee: Alexandru Dan Tudor (Romania)
Assistants: Cristian Constantin Nica, Aurel Onita (Romania)
Fourth Official: Teodor Crăciunescu (Romania)
Yellow Cards: – / Abdulin, Irismetov
Red Cards: – / –
Attempts on Target: 7 / 2
Attempts off Target: 12 / 5
Corners: 7 / 3
Fouls Committed: 8 / 8
Attendance: 20,000