Klose dismisses hopes of San Marino goal fest
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-09-05 10:47 STUTTGART, Germany - Miroslav
Klose says Germany must stick to basics against San Marino in Wednesday's Euro
2008 Group D qualifier and not try to rack up a tennis score against one of the
smallest nations in Europe.
Klose, who won the Golden Boot at the World Cup, could be forgiven for
thinking about swelling his goals tally of 31 in 63 internationals but the
Werder Bremen forward is not getting overconfident.
"We want to win this game and that is all that counts. I am not thinking of
scoring three or four goals myself," Klose said at Monday's press conference.
"San Marino will be compact and defend in numbers but we already know that.
It is up to us to break them down and we will not make the mistake of
underestimating them."
Germany defeated the Republic of Ireland 1-0 in their opening Euro 2008
qualifier on Saturday and Klose hopes for a more convincing display against San
Marino.
"It was difficult against Ireland and we did not do everything we wanted to,"
Klose admitted.
"If we had scored early on it could have been a comfortable victory so we
hope it goes better against San Marino in that respect.
"Victory by a few clear goals would be ideal but it all depends on how early
the breakthrough comes."
It is Germany's first competitive away match in over two years - with the
last being their 2-1 Euro 2004 group defeat to the Czech Republic in Lisbon -
and Klose acknowledges the team need to get used to not having the home fans
that spurred them on at the World Cup.
"It is all so different after the World Cup and we have to get used to
playing abroad," the 28-year-old added.
"I do not know how many spectators will be there but it will not be like a
home game, that is for sure."
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