Germany set out on the road to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with typical ruthlessness and efficiency in a routine 6-0 qualifying win away to Liechtenstein in Vaduz. Man of the Match Lukas Podolski claimed a sixth brace for his country with goals on 21 and 48 minutes to ease the Germans into the comfort zone, before Simon Rolfes (65), Bastian Schweinsteiger (66), Thomas Hitzlsperger (76) and Heiko Westermann (86) polished off the job.
“We went out there looking to win, and that’s what we’ve gone and done,” coach Joachim Löw commented after his 30th match in charge. “We’ve demonstrated the ability to unlock ultra-defensive teams. We should have scored two or three more in the first half, but we netted a couple of lovely goals after half-time.“
A 6,128 crowd braved teeming rain at the Rheinpark stadium as the Germans, starting with captain Miroslav Klose, Podolski, Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm, seized the initiative from the off. The Liechtenstein tactics consisted of closing down space and attacking the man on the ball as early as possible.
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