Germany's Klose hints at international retirement
Source: Agencies |
June 29, 2010, Tuesday
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JUST a couple of weeks ago Germany's Miroslav Klose was persona non grata among German fans following his trickle of league goals but the striker has silenced his critics with a sparkling comeback.
On Sunday, the 32-year-old, who came into the World Cup after what was his worst season in years - just three league goals for Bayern Munich, could finally crack a smile.
Pushing teammate and double goal scorer Thomas Mueller aside and telling him "you've said enough", Klose, who had also just scored in its 4-1 demolition of England to steer Germany into the quarterfinals, was in high spirits.
He had just netted his 50th international goal in his 99th appearance and could not hide his satisfaction.
The Poland-born striker is now level with Pele on the all-time World Cup scorers list, just three behind top scorer Ronaldo on 15.
"No, I did not want to show anyone anything. I just wanted to prove it to myself," he said of Germany's first goal, when he sprinted past two England defender to slot the ball home.
Only days ago he had been sent off in its Group D defeat by Serbia and had to sit out Germany's narrow 1-0 win over Ghana that sent it through the group stage. The discussion as to whether he was too old had again kicked off back home.
The German striker hinted that he could quit the national side after the World Cup. "As long as my legs carry me I will play football," he said yesterday. "But I'm very spontaneous. I would not put it past me in two or three weeks to step aside and give space to new players."
On Germany's all-time scorers list he is in third place, with Gerd Mueller on top with 68 goals.
The soft-spoken Klose is lying in ninth place in the list of Germany's most-capped players, behind such illustrious players as Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Mueller and Juergen Klinsmann.
He has now won one more cap than captain Michael Ballack, who missed the World Cup through injury.
On Sunday, the 32-year-old, who came into the World Cup after what was his worst season in years - just three league goals for Bayern Munich, could finally crack a smile.
Pushing teammate and double goal scorer Thomas Mueller aside and telling him "you've said enough", Klose, who had also just scored in its 4-1 demolition of England to steer Germany into the quarterfinals, was in high spirits.
He had just netted his 50th international goal in his 99th appearance and could not hide his satisfaction.
The Poland-born striker is now level with Pele on the all-time World Cup scorers list, just three behind top scorer Ronaldo on 15.
"No, I did not want to show anyone anything. I just wanted to prove it to myself," he said of Germany's first goal, when he sprinted past two England defender to slot the ball home.
Only days ago he had been sent off in its Group D defeat by Serbia and had to sit out Germany's narrow 1-0 win over Ghana that sent it through the group stage. The discussion as to whether he was too old had again kicked off back home.
The German striker hinted that he could quit the national side after the World Cup. "As long as my legs carry me I will play football," he said yesterday. "But I'm very spontaneous. I would not put it past me in two or three weeks to step aside and give space to new players."
On Germany's all-time scorers list he is in third place, with Gerd Mueller on top with 68 goals.
The soft-spoken Klose is lying in ninth place in the list of Germany's most-capped players, behind such illustrious players as Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Mueller and Juergen Klinsmann.
He has now won one more cap than captain Michael Ballack, who missed the World Cup through injury.
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