Flying Dutchman Robben puts Bayern back on top

January 30, 2010

Dutch winger Arjen Robben scored his second goal in two matches to seal Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win over Bochum on Saturday to put his side top of the Bundesliga and give them their seventh straight league win.

Having scored the winner in the 3-2 win at Bremen the week before, Robben curled in another free-kick to give Louis van Gaal-coached Bayern three more Bundesliga points.

With Leverkusen facing strugglers Freiburg on Sunday, Bayern can expect to lose their place at the top of the table, but for now they enjoy a single-point lead.

Bayern’s Mario Gomez and Daniel Van Buyten had fired the German giants into the lead before Robben stepped up with the third goal.

The home side took the lead amidst heavy snow when Van Buyten headed home after a cross from Robben on 58 minutes.

French winger Franck Ribery, who continues to work his way back to fitness after a knee injury, came off the bench with 30 minutes remaining.

Ribery and Robben combined to free Germany defender Philipp Lahm down the right flank who fired in a cross which Gomez slotted home on 75 minutes before Robben struck with four minutes remaining.

Elsewhere, Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf is in a precarious position as his side have now gone seven German league games without a win after they went down 4-3 at midtable Borussia Moenchengladbach.

The home side raced into a 3-0 lead after just 18 minutes before Mesut Oezil and Claudio Pizarro pulled goals back for Bremen and captain Torsten Frings converted a penalty with six minutes left to guarantee a frantic finish.

Second from bottom Nuremberg picked up only their second win in their last 10 games when they won 3-1 at Hanover and the result leaves bottom side Hertha Berlin five points adrift after they drew 0-0 with Bochum in the capital.

Cologne are up to 12th after their second consecutive win having beaten Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1.

With defending champions Wolfsburg drawing 1-1 at Hamburg on Friday, fourth-placed Dortmund face Stuttgart on Sunday.

Under former Tottenham Hotspur boss Christian Gross, who took over from Markus Babbel in December, Stuttgart have moved up to 13th in the table.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: arjen robben, Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, borussia moenchengladbach, bottom side, Bremen, captain Torsten Frings, christian gross, Claudio Pizarro, coach thomas, cologne, drawing 1, franck ribery, FRANKFURT, german league, Germany, Hamburg, Hanover, heavy snow, knee injury, Louis, louis van gaal, mario gomez, markus babbel, mesut, nuremberg, precarious position, straight league, stuttgart, Thomas Schaaf, Van Buyten, winger

Fighting-fit Klose keeps the pressure on at Bayern

January 23, 2010

Germany’s Miroslav Klose plans to fire both his country and Bayern Munich to success in the coming weeks as the German giants look to keep up the pressure on Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen.

The 31-year-old, the top-scorer at the 2006 World Cup, scored his first German league goal of the season in last weekend’s 2-0 win over Hoffenheim which leaves Bayern two points behind Leverkusen.

But Saturday’s clash at his former club Bremen promises to be a battle royal and, although he is set to start on the bench, Klose looks sure to be used by Bayern coach Louis van Gaal.

Munich have scored 17 goals in their last five league matches and the return of the killer instinct in front of goal has sent the club off on an impressive winning run as they are now 11 league games without defeat.

Mario Gomez (five goals in the last six games) and Ivica Olic (four in the last five) have claimed regular status up front, but now Klose is pushing hard to win back his place in the starting line-up.

“My goal is to become a regular again as fast as possible,” he said having suffered a string of injuries including ankle surgery and a sprained elbow which hampered his autumn.

“Provided I?m fit and avoid injury I?ll be picked to play, at Bayern and for Germany, because when I?m fit, I?m the best,” he said with the World Cup in South Afria now five months away.

With three quality strikers fighting for two places at Bayern, Klose intends to carry the fight to Germany’s Gomez and Croatia’s Olic.

But Klose may have to be patient in terms of his first start since mid-November, as van Gaal reaffirmed his faith in Gomez and Olic after the Hoffenheim game.

“I won?t change anything for the trip to Bremen,” he said.

Bayern are expected to welcome back midfielder Franck Ribery, but will be up against a tough Bremen midfield which includes rising Germany stars Mesut Oezil and Marko Marin.

Ribery has been out of action with a troublesome knee injury since October 3 and is expected to play some role in the clash against sixth-placed Bremen.

Both Bayern and second-placed Schalke, who are at Bochum on Saturday, have the chance to take top spot in the league with leaders Leverkusen travelling to play Hoffenheim on Sunday.

Bottom side Hertha Berlin are looking for their second straight win at home to Moenchengladbach having finally broken their winless run at Hanover last weekend.

Saturday

Werder Bremen v Bayern Munich

VfL Bochum v Schalke 04

Mainz 05 v Hanover 96

Nuremberg v Eintracht Frankfurt

Hertha Berlin v Borussia M’gladbach

Borussia Dortmund v Hamburg

Sunday

VfL Wolfsburg v Cologne

Hoffenheim v Bayer Leverkusen

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: ankle surgery, Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, Bundesliga, cologne, croatia, franck ribery, FRANKFURT, german league, Hanover, Hoffenheim, Ivica, knee injury, league games, league goal, louis van gaal, Marin, mario gomez, mesut, miroslav klose, nuremberg, six games, south afria, starting line, strikers, top scorer

Mission accomplished for Germany´s Loew

October 11, 2009

It was mission accomplished for Germany coach Joachim Loew after his squad booked their place at the 2010 World Cup finals as the ten-man Germans sealed a 1-0 win over Russia in Moscow.

A first-half goal from striker Miroslav Klose was enough to give Germany an unassailable four-point lead at the top of Group Four and even the second-half dismissal of Jerome Boateng did not hamper the guests.

“I’m happy about the game, we spent the whole whole week preparing well and the result is very pleasing, of course,” said Loew.

“The team played with discipline and deserved to get the berth at the finals.”

Hamburg defender Boateng started his first international in the cauldron of Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, but a second booking earned him a red card with 20 minutes remaining as Germany finished with ten men.

Russia missed out on a penalty in the dying stages when replacement defender Arne Friedrich appeared to commit a foul on Russia captain Andrei Arshavin in the box, but the referee waved play on.

“I don’t know whether it was a penalty on Arshavin but anyway I think it was the right decision by the referee,” added Loew.

“The red card for Boateng was also justified.”

Klose, the top-scorer at the last World Cup, struck in the 34th-minute after Lukas Podolski and Mesut Oezil combined to unlock the Russian defence.

“We dealt well with the pressure here – it was not an easy place to play,” admitted Bayern Munich striker Klose.

“We used our chance, it was not a top-class game and the match was difficult in places, but Mesut Oezil and I are developing a good understanding.”

Russia play Azerbaijan in Baku while Germany host Finland in Hamburg in their last qualification game, but Guus Hiddink’s Russian side now face two-legged play-off matches if they are to reach South Africa.

“We cannot be happy with the result of course, but the team showed character in the second half,” said Hiddink.

“We were not good enough at finishing our chances or on the counter-attack.

“But we still have a chance to qualify for the finals in November’s play-off.”

Germany goalkeeper Rene Adler was the visitors’ hero with at least four world-class saves and looks set to travel to Africa as the number one choice ahead of Hanover’s Robert Enke.

“That was the most emotional match of my career,” admitted the 24-year-old Adler.

“The fact that the game went so well for me personally makes me very happy, but I only wanted to share in the victory.”

And Germany captain Michael Ballack, who brushed off a first-half ankle injury to lead his side to victory, said his side showed plenty of mental strength to leave Moscow’s Luzhinki Stadium with three points.

“We showed strong nerves and belived in ourselves with some disciplined play,” said the Chelsea star.

“We came here with a positive attitude and it showed in the way we played.”

Joachim Loew’s side safely saw out the game and leave Moscow with the three points.

“The team did well: we needed a bit of luck, but we have made sure of qualifying for the World Cup and you can’t ask for more,” beamed Loew.

MOSCOW (AFP)

Tags: arne friedrich, Baku, Bayern, berth, boateng, captain Andrei Arshavin, captain Michael Ballack, cauldron, class game, Finland, germans, Germany, good understanding, guus hiddink, Hamburg, Hanover, Jerome Boateng, joachim loew, Lukas Podolski, Luzhinki Stadium, luzhniki stadium, mesut, miroslav klose, Moscow, referee, rene adler, right decision, robert enke, russian defence, russian side, South Africa, top scorer, world cup finals

Gomez hands Germany injury worry, Oezil to start

September 6, 2009

Striker Mario Gomez handed Germany a World Cup qualifying headache on Sunday when he pulled up with a knee injury while highly-rated winger Mesut Oezil was confirmed as a starter for Wednesday’s clash with Azerbaijan.

Gomez and 20-year-old Werder Bremen player Oezil both scored in Saturday’s 2-0 friendly win over South Africa.

Coach Joachim Loew used the speed of Oezil and fellow 20-year-old winger Marko Marin to exploit space down the flanks for lone striker Gomez against South Africa.

“My team did well both in terms of result and performance,” said Loew, who criticised his team last month when they struggled to a 2-0 win over Azerbaijan in Baku in the first Group Four meeting between the two countries.

“That was a clear improvement in relation to our last few games, we were more fluid on the ball. We have been together for a week now and you could see the benefits of the extra training.

“There are still a few things which don’t fit into the way we play.

“There is still some room for improvement in defence, Arne Friedrich and Heiko Westermann put in good claims for their centre-back places. Our structure has improved greatly.”

Oezil put in the most eye-catching performance of the night having been handed his first start for Germany and Loew singled him out for praise before adding the youngster will start against Azerbaijan.

“Mesut Oezil brought a lot of creativity and was technically excellent, he has a good eye and can produce some dangerous situations for us,” said the coach.

“He played very well in attack, but he still has things to learn on tracking back, but I am very happy with his performance. I assume he will start against Azerbaijan.”

In front of his home crowd, Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler gave a good account of himself, but his rival Robert Enke will be in Germany’s number one shirt for Wednesday’s qualifier in Hanover.

Germany lead Group Four by a single point and face their most important game of the qualification campaign so far when they take on Russia in Moscow on October 10.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: arne friedrich, Baku, berlin, Bremen, dangerous situations, flanks, Germany, Goalkeeper, good eye, Hanover, hanover germany, heiko, Heiko Westermann, home crowd, joachim loew, knee injury, lead group, Marin, mario gomez, mesut, Moscow, rene adler, robert enke, russia, single point, South Africa, south africa coach, space down, werder bremen, winger, youngster

Quartet sit out Germany training

September 2, 2009

Michael Ballack, Lukas Podolski, Mesut Ozil and Robert Enke sat out training on Tuesday as Germany prepare to face South Africa in a friendly.

Germany take on the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ hosts in Leverkusen on Saturday, but Chelsea star Ballack missed training here on Tuesday with a groin strain, while Werder Bremen midfielder Ozil has a knee injury.

Hanover’s keeper Enke was a late withdrawal having suffered from the ‘flu and it is not clear how long he will be out for.

Both Ballack and Ozil are expected to be back in training with the squad by Wednesday at the latest, while Podolski has a calf injury and is not expected to train until at least Thursday.

The quartet sat out a series of testing on Tuesday to assess the Germany squad’s fitness.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, Bremen, CHELSEA, fifa world cup, flu, Germany, germany squad, groin strain, Hanover, hosts, knee injury, LEVERKUSEN, Lukas Podolski, mesut, Michael Ballack, midfielder, quartet, robert enke, South Africa, werder bremen

Germany boss Loew calls for more respect

September 1, 2009

Germany coach Joachim Loew said Tuesday he expected to be shown more respect by Bundesliga coaches over who he selected in the national squad ahead of the friendly against South Africa.

Loew opted to leave out Werder Bremen’s goalkeeper Tim Weise and Bayer Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling for Saturday’s friendly with South Africa and next Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan in Hanover.

Both decisions drew heavy criticism from the respective clubs concerned, but with an eye on next year’s World Cup in South Africa, Loew called for more understanding and less questioning of his decisions.

“We expect from the club coaches and managers that they respect our decisions, just as we respect theirs,” said Loew at a press conference in Cologne.

“We carry the responsibility and the consequences of all our decisions and we know all our decisions are accountable for.”

Loew has said any players not selected for the next two games stand to be given their opportunity later in the season before next June’s World Cup in South Africa.

Germany captain Michael Ballack sat out training on Tuesday with a groin strain, as did Werder Bremen’s Mesut Oezil who has a knee injury.

Likewise, striker Lukas Podolski has a knee injury, but all are expected to be back in training by Thursday at the latest.

“I assume they will train by Thursday at the latest without problems,” said Loew.

Having struggled to a 2-0 win over minnows Azerbaijan in Baku last month, Loew repeated his call for a raised standard against the South Africans on Saturday and the return leg against Azerbaijan in Hanover on September 9.

“I was also not content with our achievements in the last few games,” admitted Loew.

“We have to fine-tune our performances and work on the harmony in our play.”

A win over Russia in the World Cup qualifier in Moscow on October 10 will guarantee Germany a berth at next year’s World Cup, but Loew says it is too early to think of the game.

But with a healthy lead at the top of Group Four over the Russians, Loew knows Germany’s path to South Africa lies in their own hands.

“With 19 from a 21 possible points we are on target for the World Cup qualification,” he said.

“We know that we disappointed in the last few games and didn’t play to our potential.

“Against South Africa and Azerbaijan we want to dominate and exert our authority, I am sure we will do that.”

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: Azerbaijan, Baku, bayer leverkusen, berlin, berth, Bremen, captain michael, captain Michael Ballack, club coaches, cologne, fine tune, Germany, Goalkeeper, Hanover, joachim loew, knee injury, Lukas Podolski, mesut, Michael Ballack, Moscow, podolski, return leg, russia, september 9, South Africa, south africans, stefan kiessling, striker, Tim Weise, werder bremen, world cup qualifier

German Under 21´s take Euro crown

June 30, 2009

MALMO, Sweden (AFP) – A double by Sandro Wagner rounded off a stunning 4-0 success for Germany over England in the European Under-21 championship final to give them their first success in the tournament.

The Germans – who added this title to the ones presently in the hands of their Under-17 and Under-19 compatriots – also scored through Gonzalo Castro and the hugely impressive Mesut Ozil.

It was England’s first appearance in the final since 1984 and brought to an end a run of having not lost open play in 21 matches and gave German coach Horst Hrubesch echoes of his major success as a player with the then West Germany in the senior 1980 European final over Belgium.

England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce revealed he would stay on for the next campaign for the 2011 finals and try and improve on this performance.

“Just before the semi-final I signed a two year deal,” said Pearce, who was suffering another disappointment against Germany having as a player lost to them in the 1990 World Cup semi-final – he missed one of the penalties in the shootout – and then again in the Euro ‘96 semi-finals.

“I enjoy where I work, my employers and the players I work with. Why would you walk away from that,” added Pearce, who will also continue to work with England senior coach Fabio Capello, who was unable to attend the final having been at the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

England started brightly with Adam Johnson whipping in a couple of dangerous crosses while James Milner – who was playing his 46th and final Under-21 international – delivered a great freekick from the left only for Martin Cranie to head over under pressure.

Lone England forward Theo Walcott – all the other specialist strikers were suspended – then broke free seizing on Aston Villa midfielder in the third minute but shot wide.

Germany got in their first effective attack just after the quarter hour mark when the impresssive German captain Sami Khedira linked up well with Ozil but Micah Richards was on hand to deflect the shot away for a corner.

Ozil it was who created Castro’s goal with a beautifully weighted pass which evaded Cranie and the German slotted it past Scott Loach, who had come in for the suspended first choice ‘keeper Joe Hart.

The Germans looked to be in control of the match and deservedly doubled their lead in the just after half-time as he misjudged Ozil’s long range freekick and he managed to only get a hand on it and see it spin into the net.

“The ball can react abnormally sometimes,” said Hrubesch charitably of the Watford ‘keeper’s blunder.

England had to go for broke and midfielder Lee Cattermole came closest to reducing the deficit just before the hour with a finely-struck shot which clipped the crossbar.

England kept the pressure up and in the 62nd minute the impressive Milner turned leftback Sebastian Boenisch inside out and passed the ball to Johnson who failed to take advantage from three metres out.

Ozil was tormenting England all night and he set up Germany’s third goal as he broke down the middle – right back Cranie was being treated for an injury – and his delightful pass outside to Wagner saw him shoot the ball between Loach’s legs.

It made amends for a dreadful howler only minutes before when he failed to net from a metre out following another gem of a pass from Ozil.

However, he redeemed himself completely when he scores his second, a beautifully curled effort which gave Loach no chance and rounded off a humiliating night for England.

Tags: adam johnson, Bundesliga, coach fabio capello, compatriots, confederations cup, English Premier League, european under 21 championship, fabio capello, first appearance, freekick, german coach, Germany, gonzalo castro, Horst Hrubesch, James Milner, Joe Hart, Lee Cattermole, Lone England, Malmo, malmo sweden, martin cranie, mesut, micah richards, sandro wagner, Scott Loach, Sebastian Boenisch, semi finals, South Africa, strikers, stuart pearce, Sweden, Theo, theo walcott, west germany

Werder Bremen beat Leverkusen in German Cup final

May 31, 2009

Werder Bremen have won the 2008-09 edition of the German Cup, beating Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 in the final. The only goal of the match came after 58 minutes, and was scored by Mesut Özil. Ten days after losing the UEFA Cup final, Werder now defended their narrow lead to end the season with a trophy after all. To get to the final of the ‘DFB Pokal’, Werder had already beaten Eintracht Nordhorn, Erzgebirge Aue, Borussia Dortmund, VfL Wolfsburg and Hamburger SV.

Werder had won the tournament five times before, in 1961, 1991, 1994, 1999 and 2004.

Written : Jonathan Roorda

Tags: bayer, bayer leverkusen, beating, Borussia, Bremen, Bundesliga, Cup, DFB, dfb pokal, dortmund, edition, Eintracht, Erzgebirge, erzgebirge aue, German, german cup, goal, Hamburger, hamburger sv, LEVERKUSEN, match, mesut, narrow lead, Nordhorn, Özil, Pokal, season, the, tournament, trophy, UEFA Cup, VfL, vfl wolfsburg, Werder, werder bremen, Wolfsburg

Oezil goal hands Bremen German Cup

May 30, 2009

BERLIN (AFP) – Werder Bremen won the German Cup on Saturday, a a second-half goal from midfielder Mesut Oezil sealing a 1-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

Tags: bayer, bayer leverkusen, berlin, Bremen, Bundesliga, german cup, mesut, olympic stadium, victory, werder bremen

Werder can win UEFA Cup without me – Diego

May 20, 2009

ISTANBUL (AFP) – Influential Werder Bremen playmaker Diego has backed his team-mates to win their UEFA Cup final against Shakhtar Donetsk here on Wednesday, despite his absence through suspension.

The 24-year-old Brazilian international picked up a booking in Werder’s semi-final victory over domestic rivals Hamburg that ruled him out of the decider in Istanbul, but says his team can cope without him.

“My team-mates will win the UEFA Cup, without me and maybe also a little bit for me,” said the former Porto star, who is in talks with Italian giants Juventus over a reported 29 million-euro transfer for next season.

The likelihood that Diego will be playing his football in Serie A next term has turned attention towards his potential successor at Werder, Mesut Ozil.

The 20-year-old midfielder of Turkish descent made his debut for Germany in February and team-mate Torsten Frings feels he can handle the club’s expectations.

“All eyes will be on him, but he can make the difference on his own, as he’s shown this season when he’s really progressed,” said Frings.

“But we mustn’t overwhelm a 20-year-old player with too much pressure. We must all help him.”

Ozil himself, meanwhile, sees no reason why he cannot step into the shoes of his feted colleague.

“The absence of Diego is a big blow, but we’ve already won without him, and I know what I’m capable of.”

Diego may be unavailable, but Shakhtar have four exciting Brazilian talents of their own in the shape of Fernandinho, Ilsinho, Jadson and Adriano.

“I’m sure it will be a very interesting final between two very different teams,” said Shakhtar’s Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu, before appearing to disparage the qualities of a Werder team frequently lauded as one of the most attractive footballing sides in the Bundesliga.

“Bremen are direct, they’re very physical with some very strong players,” he said. “Our game is more technical and relies on the individual qualities of our players.

“They will try to provoke us to commit fouls and give away free-kicks.”