Miroslav Klose

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Decade for Germany
Ten-year stalwart Klose in pursuit of record

Miroslav Klose marked a significant anniversary on Thursday: the 32-year-old Bayern man earned his first Germany cap exactly ten years ago, coming on as a sub in a World Cup qualifier against Albania in Leverkusen and heading the winning goal in a tight 2-1 victory. Going into Saturday’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Kazakhstan in Kaiserslautern, the striker boasts a remarkable 59 goals in 106 internationals.

“It’s a pleasure to review all those years and think back on everyone I’ve played with. It’s been really interesting and a superb experience for me,” said the player, revealing one final major target. “I’m counting on appearing at Euro 2012. Then I’ll take it as it comes and decide from season to season, depending on how I feel,” Klose said on Thursday in Mainz.

The leading scorer at the 2006 World Cup is not saying the European showdown in Poland, his country of birth, will automatically spell the end of his Germany career: “I’m feeling fit and healthy,” he said, refusing to rule out taking part at the Brazil World Cup in 2014. “The Germany set-up is like a family to me,” he declared.

Germany’s first competitive international of the year against the Kazakhs, who have yet to register a point or a goal in Euro 2012 qualifying, takes place at Miro’s first top flight stamping ground. The striker aims to use the match to continue his pursuit of Gerd Müller’s Germany scoring record. He has six goals in Euro qualifying so far, and one in a recent 1-1 friendly draw with Italy, taking him ever nearer to Müller’s career record of 68 goals.

Back to the Betze

Klose feels he “might yet” pass Der Bomber during next summer’s continental showdown in Poland and Ukraine. The local lad from Kaiserslautern would relish a goal at the Betzenberg stadium. “The fans and the club will always be a part of me,” the player said. “If we score early, I’m sure we’ll win by a decent margin.”


Klose made the breakthrough as a senior international while on the books at Kaiserslautern. Asked to pick his special highlights from a decade as an international, the goal-getter named the tournaments he has contested with Germany: three World Cups and two European championships. “And I have very special memories of the last tournament in South Africa.”

First-choice for Germany

Miro is currently behind Mario Gomez in the pecking order at Bayern, but Germany coach Joachim Löw says there is “no question” of Klose’s first-choice status for the national team. The player regards the duel with Gomez as “a normal battle for a place. At Bayern, Gomez is world-class and has brilliantly taken his chance” – although the same might be said for Miro in the national team.

He is hugely respected on the international footballing scene. “You saw it after the games against Argentina, England or in the Champions League: Everyone wants Miro’s shirt,” revealed Bastian Schweinsteiger: “That shows he’s a great.” The striker’s contract at Bayern expires this summer, and he has yet to take a decision regarding his future: “I can imagine various options.”


KLOSE’S GERMANY CAREER, 2001-2011

1st match: On 24 March 2001, Rudi Völler sent on the 22-year-old Klose after 72 minutes of a World Cup qualifying meeting with Albania. The new man headed an 88th-minute winner.

8th match: Klose’s first start was a 7-1 victory over Israel on 13 February 2002, when he scored his first hat-trick for Germany on his Kaiserslautern home ground.

12th match: The next triple strike followed in a 6-2 win over Austria in a warm-up for the 2002 World Cup.

13th match: Klose’s World Cup debut included a headed hat-trick in an 8-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Sapporo. He would finish second top scorer at the finals on five goals, behind only Ronaldo (8).

19th match: The World Cup final on 30 June 2002 in Yokohama was lost to Brazil, and Klose was substituted before the end.

25th match: Holiday misery on Mallorca: His 25th match ended in a 3-1 defeat to Spain in Palma.

50th match: Another subdued milestone: a goalless draw with France in Paris.

56th match: A dream opening to the World Cup on home soil: Germany beat Costa Rica 4-2 on 9 June 2006, the 28-year-old scoring twice.

60th match: On 30 June 2006 in Berlin, Klose had already been substituted before the penalty shoot-out against Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals. However, he had earlier scored a vital normal-time equaliser.

70th match: Klose captains his country for the first time, and scores both goals in a 2-0 victory away to Wales on 8 September 2007.

75th match: A milestone marked by a goal: On 27 May 2008, Klose opens the scoring in a 2-2 Euro 2008 warm-up draw against Belarus in Kaiserslautern.

80th match: Euro 2008: Just as in the quarter-final against Portugal (3-2), Klose hits the target in the semi-final win over Turkey by the same score. However, the Germans lose the final 1-0 to Spain.

84th match: Klose notches his fourth hat-trick in a 3-3 World Cup qualifying draw away to Finland in September 2008.

92nd match: The goal that sends Germany to the World Cup: the 31-year-old scores the only goal of the match in a qualifying shoot-out with Russia in Moscow on 10 October 2009.

98th match: A bitter pill: Klose is sent off for the first time, in a World Cup group stage defeat to Serbia in Port Elizabeth.

99th match: A magnificent comeback against England: a 4-1 triumph featuring Klose’s 50th goal.

100th match: Klose marks his 100th international with two goals in a 4-0 World Cup quarter-final victory over Argentina.

102nd match: Klose scores the only goal in the first Euro 2012 qualifier against Belgium. He then fires a brace in both victories over Azerbaijan (6-1) and Turkey (3-0). He is also on target in a 3-0 win away to Kazakhstan.

106th match: Germany open for 2011 with a 1-1 friendly draw against Italy in Dortmund. Klose scores, moving onto 59 goals for his country, jut nine short of Gerd Müller’s record.

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