The German national team want to start their qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup with a goal fest against Liechtenstein today (20:45).
“A good start is extremely important for us. We want to win and we will win, even if Liechtenstein are of a different class than San Marino in our EURO 2008 qualifying campaign”. Germany coach Joachim Löw said ahead of his 30th match in charge of the national team in Vaduz.
The match against Finland in Helsinki will follow on Wednesday (19:35), and Christoph Metzelder knows that “six points are mandatory”.
Without Ballack and Frings
The Real Madrid defender could be on the bench, however, if Serdar Tasci and Heiko Westermann play at the heart of the defence as they did in the 2-0 over Belgium recently.
Veterans Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings may be sidelined, but Bastian Schweinsteiger has made an impressive start to the season and Thomas Hitzlsperger and Simon Rolfes were in command against Belgium.
Trochowski to start
Marko Marin and Patrick Helmes might play a part in the next few days, too. Piotr Trochowski is already one step ahead of them.
“We really liked his recent performances, he has made a step forward in Hamburg”, said assistant coach Hans-Dieter Flick, confirming that Trochowski will start.
Another emphatic win?
Miroslav Klose will captain the DFB team in what will be his 83rd cap. Lukas Podolski is expected to partner Klose in attack.
Germany have played two matches against Liechtenstein to date, a 9-1 hammering in 1996 and an 8-2 victory four years later.
German line-up as expected:
Enke - Fritz (Jansen), Tasci, Westermann, Lahm - Schweinsteiger, Hitzlsperger, Rolfes, Trochowski - Klose, Podolski
Podolski starts German goal rush
Trochowski strike settles it
Three more points without Ballack?