KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany (Reuters) – Thomas Mueller and Miroslav Klose both scored twice as Germany eased to a 4-0 victory over Kazakhstan to open up a commanding eight-point lead in Euro 2012 Group A qualifying yesterday. Klose scored in his sixth consecutive international as Germany made it a maximum 15 points from five games.
He tapped in from close range after three minutes and 2010 World Cup top scorer Mueller struck twice before the break, both times set up by Mesut Ozil.
Last-placed Kazakhstan, ranked 129 places below Germany, had to endure wave after wave of attacks but battled bravely in the second half to keep the score down until Klose netted his 61st goal in 107 matches two minutes from time.
Germany lead the group from Belgium while Austria can close the gap to five points with a win over Turkey on Tuesday.
“We played well at times, especially in the first half,” said Germany captain Philipp Lahm. “We still have tough games ahead but I am confident we will qualify.”
With nine players from Germany’s World Cup team in the starting line-up and with the visitors missing six key players it was always going to be a one-sided affair.
Klose, back in his old hunting ground at Kaiserslautern where he played for five years, needed only three minutes to score when he was left unmarked at the far post to tap in a Bastian Schweinsteiger free kick.
Real Madrid’s Ozil then turned on the style, twice setting up Mueller to score before Klose took his goal tally to 61 from 107 international games two minutes from time.
The 32-year-old is now seven goals short of Gerd Mueller’s Germany record of 68 international goals, although the former Bayern Munich striker scored them in just 62 games.