Austria 0 Germany 3
A 3-0 win for Germany didn't tell the whole story of the match as the Austrians gave them a real game. A goal early in the second half from a Thomas Hitzlsperger strike put the Germans in front, before Klose and Gomez added two more.
Joachim Löw will be an unsatisfied man despite a 3-0 win in Vienna against Austria. The home side were aggressive and resolute during the first half and were clearly the better side, with the Ernst-Happel stadium crowd enjoying what they were seeing.
However, the Germans went 1-0 up thanks to a Thomas Hitzlsperger strike after 53 minutes. Two more goals from Miroslav Klose and substitute Mario Gomez made the game safe, but will not stop the criticism of their overall performance.
Bundestrainer Joachim Löw handed a debut to Schalke’s Heiko Westermann, who started at right back. Manuel Friedrich replaced the injured Christophe Metzelder, while both Michael Ballack and Bernd Schneider were recalled after lengthy spells out injured. Kevin Kuranyi got the nod to partner Miroslav Klose in attack.
Joseph Hickersberger recalled Emanuel Pogatetz from his international exile, while there were also starts for Werder Bremen's Martin Harnik and Bundesliga newcomer Sebastian Prodl.
First Half
Austria came out of the traps very quickly and went on the attack from the very outset. Fuchs dribbled straight at Heiko Westermann targeting the debutant from the very start. His shot from 20 meters flew wide of the goal however.
The home side were aggressive and full of running and were finding it easy to disrupt the German’s rhythm and stop them building up any momentum. Joseph Hickersberger’s side managed to switch defence to attack and were causing the Germans problems.
On 10 minutes, Harnik broke down the right and squared the ball to Ivanschitz, who was tackled at the last minute by the alertness of Heiko Westermann.
Germany’s first chance arrived from the head of Michael Ballack after he got on the end of a Bernd Schneider free kick. His effort flew over causing Alex Manninger no problems.
Austria were still the more impressive side and continued to press forward and cause Germany difficulties with Ivanschitz looking particularly impressive.
The most dangerous moment in the first half arrived on 22 minutes with Harnik breaking down the right. Keeper Jens Lehmann came out a little slowly and was rounded by the Werder Bremen player. Fouled by Manuel Friedrich, the referee played an advantage when the ball ran to Roland Linz. His shot however was cleared by Mertesacker.
On the half hour mark, Austria created yet another good chance when Ivanschitz sent in Fuchs on the left. Lehmann did well to save with his feet. The rest of the half was played out in the midfield area with Germany trying to use Schweinsteiger down the right but to little avail.
Second Half
Neither side made any changes at half time, at the second period began much like the first had progressed with Austria on top. Ivanschitz beat Friedrich well before feeding Standfest, who fired well over.
They were then made to rue all their missed chances when Germany took a surprise lead. Schneider played the ball into the run of Westermann, whose cross into the centre was only partially cleared. Thomas Hitzlsperger was on hand to fire in the loose ball to put the away side in front.
Austria very nearly equalised immediately, but Harnik saw his shot parried by Lehmann and Linz was unable to steer the rebound home.
Ten minutes after the first goal and Germany bagged a second through Miroslav Klose. Hitzlsperger sent Ballack racing down the left beating the offside trap in the process. His square ball to the middle picked out Klose well and the Bayern striker converted easily from close range.
Although still fighting, the game had slipped away from Austria, which was a shame considering their first half display. A number of substitutions changed the complexion of the two teams, but it was two of Germany’s newcomers that combined for the third goal.
Podolski crossed for Gomez and the Stuttgart striker headed in well past Manninger to put a more comprehensive look on the scoreline than the German’s performance perhaps warranted.
Line-ups:
Austria: Manninger, Prödl, Stranzl, Pogatetz, Standfest, Aufhauser (Präger 69), Säumel, Fuchs, Ivanschitz, Harnik (Kienast 73), Linz (Kavlak 82)
Germany: Lehmann, Westermann, Mertesacker, M Friedrich (Hilbert 74), Lahm, Ballack (Rolfes 87), Hitzlsperger (Jones 82), Schneider (Podolski 59), Schweinsteiger, Kuranyi (Gomez 59), Klose
Goals
1-0 Hitzlsperger (53)
2-0 Klose (63)
3-0 Gomez (80)
Cards:
Yellow: Aufhauser (48) Friedrich (71) Mertesacker (77) Linz (78) Ballack (78)
Attendance: 48,500
Referee: Paolo Dondarini (Italy)
Goal.com - Germany - Germany Unconvincing Despite 3-0 Win
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