Striker equals record 68 goals set by Gerd Mueller as Germany beat Austria in World Cup qualifier
Miroslav Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo stole the limelight on a busy night of World Cup qualifying fixtures on Friday that saw several European nations edge closer to a place at the finals in Brazil. Veteran Klose set Germany on the way to a 3-0 win against neighbours Austria which keeps them firmly in control of Group C, while Ronaldo netted a hat-trick as Portugal came from behind to triumph 4-2 in Northern Ireland.
Music in Munich German striker Miroslav Klose celebrates his goal against Austria on Friday. Pic/AFP
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Reigning world champions Spain eased to a 2-0 win in Finland, while Italy are just one more victory away from qualifying for the finals after a 1-0 defeat of Bulgaria in Palermo, but it was not all plain sailing for the big boys, with the Netherlands having to scramble to draw 2-2 in Estonia. Germany were far too strong for Austria in Munich with the 35-year-old Klose setting them on their way with the 68th international goal of his career.
That saw him equal Gerd Mueller’s German record for the most goals scored for his country, before Bayern Munich pair Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller got the other goals for the hosts on the night. Germany are now five points clear of Sweden, who won 2-1 in the Republic of Ireland with Johan Elmander and Anders Svensson getting their goals after Robbie Keane had put the home side in front.
"We did our homework, we knew how Austria would play and we took the sting out of them," said Germany coach Joachim Loew, whose team will qualify on Tuesday if they win in the Faroe Islands and Sweden fail to win in Kazakhstan.
Portugal edge ahead
Portugal are still two points clear of Russia at the top of Group F, but having played a game more, after winning an eventful game in Belfast.u00a0In a match that featured three red cards, Northern Ireland twice led before Real Madrid man Ronaldo scored three times in 15 minutes late on to move him above the great Eusebio in his country’s list of all-time leading scorers on 43.
Russia had earlier swatted aside group whipping boys Luxembourg 4-1, with Alexander Kokorin of Dynamo Moscow scoring a brace, to keep automatic qualification in their own hands.u00a0Spain are now three points clear at the top of Group I with just two games remaining after Jordi Alba and Alvaro Negredo struck either side of half-time in Helsinki while France, in second, saw their goal drought continue with a 0-0 draw in Georgia.
"It was a very difficult game because they were very compact and we found it difficult to find spaces," Spain boss Vicente del Bosque admitted afterwards.
Italy’s single-goal win against Bulgaria in Sicily means they need only beat the Czech Republic on Tuesday to book their ticket to Brazil from Group B.
Key results
Group B: Czech Republic 1 (Rosicky 70) lost to Armenia 2 (Mkrtchyan 31, Ghazaryan 90); Malta 1 (Failla 38) lost to Denmark 2 (Andreasen 2, Camilleri 53-og); Group D: Romania 3 (Marica 2, Pintilii 31, Tanase 88) beat Hungary 0; Estonia 2 (Vassiljev 17, 56) drew with Netherlands 2 (Robben 1, Van Persie 90+3-pen); Group I: Finland 0 lost to Spain 2 (Alba 19, Negredo 86).u00a0
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