Loew buzzing as Germany hits Cup stride

COLOGNE, Germany - Germany coach Joachim Loew said he was pleased to see his side reproduce some of its dazzling World Cup form in a 6-1 rout of Azerbaijan in Tuesday night's Euro 2012 qualifier.

German national soccer team coach Joachim Loew and player Bastian Schweinsteiger (R) talk during a training session in Cologne September 6, 2010.

Having struggled to beat Belgium 1-0 in Brussels last Friday, Germany reproduced some of its form in Cologne from its successful campaign in South Africa which saw it finish third.

Striker Miroslav Klose took his tally to 55 international goals with a double on his 103rd appearance while Cologne forward Lukas Podolski answered his critics with a well-timed goal and then set up Klose in a slick display.

Germany tops Group A, but Turkey also has a 100 percent record after two games as it beat Belgium 3-2 earlier in Istanbul. Germany faces Turkey in Berlin on Oct 8.

"The team produced some more top football and some of the combinations worked very well," beamed Loew, who will coach Germany through to the Euro 2012 finals in Ukraine and Poland.

"It was fun to see that. We have been working on things since even before the World Cup.

"You can sense that things are becoming automatic now.

"It was noted that (Lukas) Podolski was willing to put in a lot of leg work.

"He shows his strength in the national side and his goal ratio (41 goals in 81 games) speaks for itself."

Interestingly, Loew said he had not seen Germany captain Michael Ballack in the Cologne stadium, as he recovers from the ankle injury which kept him out of the World Cup.

"I let him decide. Everyone needs to decide for himself," said Loew.

In Ballack's absence, Philipp Lahm skippered the side and was pleased with the six goals, despite the second-half consolation goal by Azerbaijan striker Vagif Dzavadov.

"Six goals scored - so we can be satisfied," said Lahm.

(China Daily)