Germany win final warm-up match
Saturday, 5 June 2010
FRANKFURT, June 4 (AFP): New captain Philipp Lahm hit the equaliser and his deputy Bastian Schweinsteiger scored two penalties as Germany came from behind to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1 here on Thursday in a friendly.
This was Germany's final World Cup warm-up game before South Africa and the Germans responded to Edin Dzeko's early goal with an impressive performance, but the captain said there is still room for improvement.
Germany have endured a difficult few weeks which have seen them lose captain Michael Ballack, midfielder Christian Traesch and defender Heiko Westermann all through injuries.
With Ballack out of the World Cup, Lahm will wear the captain's armband in South Africa when Germany open their campaign against Australia in Group D on June 13.
Coach Joachim Loew again opted to start Miroslav Klose as the lone striker with Lukas Podokski and Mesut Oezil providing attacking options from midfield.
Bosnia - who just missed out on the finals after losing to Portugal in a play- off - were dangerous in the first-half, but ill discipline cost them dearly in the second-half.
For Germany, both Podolski and Oezil looked threatening and crashed their shots against the Bosnian crossbar at various times.
This was Germany's final World Cup warm-up game before South Africa and the Germans responded to Edin Dzeko's early goal with an impressive performance, but the captain said there is still room for improvement.
Germany have endured a difficult few weeks which have seen them lose captain Michael Ballack, midfielder Christian Traesch and defender Heiko Westermann all through injuries.
With Ballack out of the World Cup, Lahm will wear the captain's armband in South Africa when Germany open their campaign against Australia in Group D on June 13.
Coach Joachim Loew again opted to start Miroslav Klose as the lone striker with Lukas Podokski and Mesut Oezil providing attacking options from midfield.
Bosnia - who just missed out on the finals after losing to Portugal in a play- off - were dangerous in the first-half, but ill discipline cost them dearly in the second-half.
For Germany, both Podolski and Oezil looked threatening and crashed their shots against the Bosnian crossbar at various times.