THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DURBAN, South Africa — Miroslav Klose usually comes through when it matters most for Germany, and he did it again in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Australia to kick off his country’s bid for a fourth World Cup title.
Klose scored the important second goal that put Germany firmly in control of Sunday’s Group D match.
The 32-year-old striker had been under fire ahead of the tournament after warming the bench at Bayern Munich for most of the season, in which he scored only three goals in the Bundesliga, and played poorly in Germany’s tuneup matches.
"I always knew what I could do," Klose said after the match. "I trained two-three times a day and I knew that today was important, not what happened in the friendlies before the World Cup."
Klose played little part in Bayern’s sweep of the two domestic titles and in its march to the Champions League final. But Germany coach Joachim Loew stuck with his veteran despite widespread calls to drop the striker.
"Miro always shows that he is there in important games," defender Arne Friedrich said.
Klose scored the goal that qualified Germany for the World Cup in a 1-0 victory in Russia.
After scoring in the 26th minute against Australia with a powerful header off a cross from Philipp Lahm, Klose now has 11 goals in three World Cup tournaments, tied for second on Germany’s all-time list with Juergen Klinsmann. Gerd Mueller leads with 14.
"Philipp sent a good cross, that’s something we’ve been trying out in practice and I hit it very well. Few goalkeepers would have stopped it," Klose said. "I knew I had to focus on one chance and I used it."
Klose came close a few more times and worked with his forward partner from the last World Cup, Lukas Podolski, who also scored and was chosen man of the match.
The Polish-born Klose scored five goals at the 2002 tournament, when Germany reached the final, and topped the 2006 World Cup at home with five more to lead Germany to the semis.
But Klose has looked a shadow of himself this season, displaying little confidence until Loew built him up with plenty of encouragement for Germany’s World Cup opener.
"The coach talked to me a lot and that was worth gold and the team always believed in me," Klose said. "I knew that this was my game and that I had to wait for my moment. I moved well and I was all over the place. That’s the way I like to play."
Defender Per Mertesacker said the team never lost faith in Klose and Podolski, who also struggled this season.
"They were always part of the team, we knew what they can do. We need many more goals from them," Mertesacker said.
Klose said Germany should keep its feet on the ground, with Serbia up next. The Serbs lost their Group D opener 1-0 to Ghana.
"It was hugely important to win the first game. We’ve earned us respect. But nothing is yet won," said Klose. "The Serbs have their backs to the wall and we have a tough game ahead."