Germany took a decisive step nearer the 2010 World Cup finals with a 2-0 win in Azerbaijan to open up a four-point gap at the top of European qualifying group four.
Goals early in each half from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose sealed victory for Joachim Loew's side, who have played a game more than closest rivals Russia.
Germany's trip to face Russia in Moscow on October 10 is likely to decide who tops the group, but Wednesday's win gives the Germans breathing space as they retained their unbeaten record in qualifying.
Loew was able to call on the services of captain Michael Ballack, who had been an injury doubt, and his team took just 12 minutes to get on the scoresheet.
Bayern Munich star Schweinsteiger picked up the ball just outside the penalty area and blasted home a long-range shot.
Minnows Azerbaijan could create little threat and Germany doubled their lead just after the break when Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez smashed a shot at the Azerbaijan goalkeeper Farhad Veliyev and Klose headed the rebound into the empty net.
It made up for his first-half miss when the Bayern Munich stalwart drove his header over the bar with an empty net at his mercy.
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Germany took another ominous step towards South Africa 2010 but at least Wales' youngsters were not humiliated.
Wales boss John Toshack can at least be thankful for that small mercy after the soul-searching which followed Saturday's embarrassing home defeat to Finland.
But the points in World Cup Group Four were always heading to a Germany side which was never stretched.
Michael Ballack blasted home an early 30-yarder to set the tone for the night at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, with the unlucky Ashley Williams scoring an own goal for Germany's second.
It could have been more but at least Wales showed spirit and fight and regained some of their lost pride.
Toshack made five changes from the side which lost so miserably to Finland.
He lost skipper Craig Bellamy earlier today with a recurrence of his knee problem, while Jason Koumas was out with a hip problem.
Elsewhere he axed Chris Gunter, Carl Fletcher and David Edwards, bringing in Sam Ricketts following suspension, Ashley Williams, Robert Earnshaw, Sam Vokes and Aaron Ramsey, for his full debut.
Germany made just one change from the side which beat Liechtenstein, Simon Rolfes taking over from Marcell Jansen (flu).
Wales were captained by Simon Davies in Bellamy's absence with a totally reconstructed side around the Fulham man.
Germany did not need any help from the officials but that was precisely what happened after just 11 minutes when Ballack unleashed a swerving drive from 30 yards that crashed into the top corner past Wayne Hennessey.
However, that came from Germany being allowed to take a throw on the left that was clearly a Wales ball. Neither linesman or referee Terje Hauge reacted and the ball was instantly fed to the Chelsea man to score.
Half a dozen Wales players complained bitterly to the Norwegian referee, but to no avail.
To their credit Wales side were running and fighting for every ball as the Germans' passing game threatened to overrun them.
And they were getting forward. Ramsey, 18, up against Ballack in midfield, was looking for space and trying to keep possession of the ball and had two efforts on goal charged down on the edge of the box.
And Wales had a decent chance to equalise after 21 minutes. Ricketts crossed from the right, Vokes headed down and Earnshaw saw his close-range effort blocked by Robert Enke.
Joe Ledley then surged into the box to be brought down by Serdar Tasci, the defender looking to handle the ball as he fell.
Germany's menace increased and Hennessey plunged to his left to keep out a 20-yarder from Thomas Hitzlsperger after a tapped free-kick. Then Mario Gomez drove just wide from outside the box.
Hennessey saved superbly from a fierce shot from Lukas Podolski, the Germans looking dangerous every time they came forward.
But Wales were showing spirit and when Gareth Bale lifted a free-kick into the box, James Collins rose to head narrowly wide.
After an encouraging first half Wales did not need a stroke of bad luck just three minutes into the second period.
But that is what happened.
Collins had held up Gomez on the right and looked to have run the ball out but the Stuttgart striker kept the ball in.
His low cross to the near post was then stabbed past Hennessey by Williams' out-stretched boot for Germany's second.
Gunter came on for the limping Ricketts after 53 minutes, with Wales going close three minutes later as Earnshaw controlled the ball well in the box, turned away from Tasci and forced Enke into a fine save to his right.
Ched Evans took over up front for the hard-working Vokes after 62 minutes.
Germany sent on Piotr Trochowski for Podolski, with Wales replacing Lewin Nyatanga with David Cotterill, but the game was over with the visitors toying with their hosts at times.
Rolfes was booked for a foul on Ramsey before Heiko Westermann replaced the Bayer Leverkusen defender. Germany sent on Patrick Helmes for Bastian Schweinsteiger with four minutes to go.
Wales boss John Toshack blasted Norwegian referee Terje Hauge after his side's 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Germany in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Toshack claimed Germany's first goal was a "ridiculous decision that you would not see in Cardiff park football."
He said: "The first goal was a ridiculous decision, the throw was for Wales and the linesman had given it.
"Aaron Ramsey was trotting across to take it from an area of the midfield where Ballack was waiting so when the ball was passed by Ballack, Ramsey was not in any position to defend against him.
"As for the handball, it was a penalty and should have been a red card. If that had happened it may not have been so easy for Germany.
"The referee produced decisions you would not see on Llandaff (Cardiff) playing fields in park football.''
Toshack added: "Mind you, whether we would have scored a penalty is another matter, we have missed three already in this campaign, but that is not the point.
"It is tough enough playing against one of the best sides in the world without getting those decisions from the referee, we didn't deserve that.
"As for the performance, and considering we lost our captain Craig Bellamy with a knee injury, I can't have asked for more from my team against such a top team."
Bellamy returned to Manchester today for treatment and Toshack added: "It has flared up again, he felt it in training yesterday.
"We waited until today to see if it had improved but Craig was still complaining about it today.
"He has gone back for treatment and he should be fit for Manchester City's UEFA Cup game against Hamburg shortly."
Toshack also lost midfielder Jason Koumas before the game, seemingly with a hip injury that has been worrying him since Christmas.
But there was also speculation that the Wigan man was unhappy with criticism of him from Toshack in the build up to the Finland game at the weekend and it is understood that the pair held discussions yesterday.
After Germany's second win in five days, manager Joachim Low said: "It was extremely important that we won these two games.
"We now have 16 points from 18 in this group with four games left. That means I am absolutely content with the situation."
Low also played down an on-pitch row between Ballack and Lukas Podolski that needed to be ended by the referee in the second half.
Low said: "I have not had the chance to talk to them about it, but if a captain gives out orders on the pitch it is the duty of any players to carry them out."
With only Hamburg’s Marcell Jansen missing, the German team had a final practice session in Cardiff’s Millenium Stadium Tuesday evening. The DFB-squad faces hosts Wales in an important World Cup qualification game tonight (8.45 P.M., live on ARD).
Jansen (29 caps), who had scored his second international goal in a 4-0 win over Liechtenstein on Saturday, suffered flu symptoms and – as a precaution – stayed behind in the team hotel.
Bundestrainer Joachim Löw expects a highly competitive game. “Wales will give us a great battle. We all know about the importance of this game”, said Löw, who also advised his players that they will need to wear down their opponents. Löw spoke about a “battle of attrition”. Löw said: “Wales’ chances to qualify are only theoretical at this point, but they still are a highly dangerous adversary at this point. They are with their backs up against the wall.”
The two teams have met 16 times so far, with Germany registering eight wins, six ties and two losses. On October 15, 2008, Germany won 1-0 on a goal by Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger Sportverein) , his first ever wearing the black and white. Under Löw’s reign, Germany has won 25 of 36 games, with five games ending in a tie. Lukas Podolski (FC Bayern München) would enter the all-time top ten list, if he scores two goals against Wales. So far, Podolski has scored 32 goals in 61 games for Germany.
Norwegian Terje Hauge will referee the game at Millenium stadium.
Forward Mario Gomez has not scored in his last 13 appearances for Germany so a match against a Wales side who appear to have surrendered all hope of reaching the World Cup finals could be just what he needs.
Coach Joachim Löw has remained loyal to Gomez despite his lack of goals and looks set to retain him alongside Lukas Podolski in Cardiff on Wednesday in Group Four in the continued absence of injured striker Miroslav Klose.
Stuttgart's Gomez could even benefit from the match being away after he was jeered by home fans in Leipzig on Saturday when he missed several chances in the 4-0 defeat of Leichtenstein which maintained Germany's four-point lead.
"Of course, the whistles hurt," Gomez said in an interview on Eurosport. "It is obvious that it wasn't good, and if they are whistling me personally, then that isn't nice. I know how it is and it would be different had I scored. I just need to start putting the ball over the line."
Euro 2008 runners-up Germany are clear favourites to win the group although with second-placed Russia, who have a game in hand, up against whipping boys Liechtenstein on Wednesday, Löw will be wary of the unpredictable Welsh.
"They need to open up more if they want to have a chance to qualify," Löw said of Wales although the mood in the Welsh camp after a 2-0 home defeat by Finland on Saturday suggests they have already given up.
Skipper Craig Bellamy summed up the mood after a third defeat in their five groups games so far. "You've probably seen two poor sides trying to contest this group and none have a glimmer of hope of qualifying," he told the BBC. "Where do we go from here? God knows."
Coach John Toshack admitted his side's hopes of qualifying for a first major finals since the 1958 World Cup finals are over. "We've got five games left and realistically if we won all five we still wouldn't have enough points."
Germany are likely to be unchanged from the side that beat Liechtenstein with Hamburg's Marcell Jansen retaining his place on the left and defender Serdar Tasci also getting another chance after a positive display on Saturday.
Probable teams:
Wales: Wayne Hennessey; Chris Gunter, James Collins, Lewin Nyatanga, Gareth Bale; Simon Davies, Carl Fletcher, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Ledley, Jason Koumas; Craig Bellamy.
Germany: Robert Enke, Andreas Beck, Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker, Serdar Tasci; Marcell Jansen, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Michael Ballack; Lukas Podolski, Mario Gomez.
Germany opened a four-point lead over Group 4 rivals Russia with a convincing 4-0 win against Liechtenstein here in Saturday's World Cup qualifier as captain Michael Ballack led the charge.
The Chelsea star was winning his 91st cap and guided his country to a comfortable victory which leaves Germany top of the group with 13 points ahead of second-placed Russia, who have nine points and face minnows Liechtenstein next Wednesday in Vaduz.
Germany were without several first-choice stars including striker Miroslav Klose - the top scorer at the 2006 World Cup - and back-injury victim defender Arne Friedrich, but the comfortable win was badly needed.
Home defeats to Norway in February and England last November had dented the team's confidence and tiny Liechtenstein, ranked 151st in the world and rooted to the bottom of the group, were never going to test their hosts.
It was Ballack who opened the scoring after just four minutes. Bayern München's midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger floated in a cross and Ballack drilled his shot past Liechtenstein goalkeeper Peter Jehle.
The Germans made it 2-0 five minutes later when Lukas Podolski's shot was saved by Jehle, but midfielder Marcell Jansen won the race to the ball and fired home.
It remained 2-0 at half-time, but Germany stepped up the pace after the break as both Podolski and Schweinsteiger struck in less than two minutes. Podolski drilled his shot at Jehle who parried and when the ball bobbled loose, Schweinsteiger had the simplest of tap-ins on 48 minutes.
With Klose out with an ankle injury, Stuttgart's Mario Gomez partnered Podolski up front and when Gomez's shot was saved, Podolski fired home from nine metres out to make it 4-0 after 50 minutes.
Joachim Löw has nominated 21 players for the upcoming games against Liechtenstein in Leipzig on March 28 and in Cardiff on April 1 against Wales, both qualifying games for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The German coach has refilled some open slots with Arne Friedrich, Marcell Jansen and Lukas Podolski – all three players sat out the year’s opening game against Norway due to injury. On Sunday, Friedrich cancelled his participation due to an injury, suffered in Berlin's 0-2 defeat at Stuttgart on Saturday.
Hannover's Robert Enke, recently sidelined due to a fractured left hand, returns as one of three goalkeepers on the roster. "I felt that he has had a rather successful convalescence, he’s found his old form quickly", said Löw about Enke. Löw also commented on Lukas Podolski’s reappearance in the ranks: "The fact that he battled back into Bayern's starting line-up did not have an effect on our nomination. We’d have called upon him either way, as we rate him highly. Lukas is an excellent forward."
Marcell Jansen from Hamburger SV is yet another returnee following a prolonged injury phase. "As Piotr Trochowski reports injured, we needed a midfield alternative. We will check back with the HSV to get another read on his ability to perform. But disregarding Trochowski's injury status, Marcell Jansen has performed well in the Bundesliga following the winter break. He is certainly a valid option."
Germany coach Joachim Low is sweating over the fitness of goalkeeper Rene Adler and playmaker Piotr Trochowski ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein.
The pair arrived at the national team's hotel today carrying knocks and had to report to national team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt for tests.
Adler has a swollen elbow while Trochowski sat out Hamburg's 2-1 win at Schalke yesterday with a pulled muscle.
"There is still a question mark over Trochowski, but I hope he can start training in the next few days," said Low. "Adler has bruising and swelling, but I am confident he can also train this week."
Low is unlikely to call up any replacements, despite already losing Miroslav Klose, Torsten Frings and Arne Friedrich.
Germany host Liechtenstein in Leipzig on Saturday before travelling to Cardiff to face Wales four days later.
Michael Ballack will captain Germany at the 2010 World Cup, assuming the three-times winners qualify, but midfield colleague Torsten Frings still has work to do to secure his place, coach Joachim Löw said.
Löw had a public falling-out last year with both Ballack and Frings after the two men criticised the way senior players were being handled in the squad.
Both played in the recent friendly defeat by Norway and Ballack at least has been assured of his continuing presence.
"If (Ballack) is fit he will be there as captain in 2010," Löw told Bild newspaper. "Of course it was a very strong conflict with Michael. But we live in football, not in some holy world. You will always have conflicts."
He added: "We all made mistakes last year. All of us."
Löw sounded less certain of Frings's chances of being in the squad for South Africa.
"Torsten was injured for quite some time," said Loew, who guided Germany to the runners-up spot at Euro 2008.
"He must work now to get back to his old form. But we also have to see how the team will develop, with some new players coming in, even from the current season."
Germany, who play World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein on March 28 and Wales on April 1, top Group Four with 10 points from four matches. Russia are second on six with a game in hand.
Winger Piotr Trochowski unleashed a superb second-half strike to seal a 1-0 win over Wales on Wednesday and put Germany four points clear in their World Cup qualifying group.
Joachim Loew's side took a sizeable step towards claiming the single guaranteed place at South Africa 2010 from Group Four with three more points against a spirited Welsh side in their final qualifier of the year.
"We are really pleased to have finished the year with six points from the win over Russia (last Saturday) and Wales, it puts us in a good position for next year," said Loew. Their third win from four qualifying games means Germany are now on ten points with Russia - who beat Finland 3-0 in Moscow on Wednesday - and plucky Wales lagging behind on six each, but Germany wasted a string of chances.
"We failed to score an early goal and made life a bit hard for ourselves," said captain Michael Ballack after the win over Wales."In the first-half, we lacked the concentration and a bit of finishing, but things were better in the second-half."
The result was a bitter pillow to swallow for John Toshack's team who defended passionately, but the Germany attack finally unpicked the lock on the Welsh goal when Trochowski rifled his shot home on 72 minutes.
Watch highlights from the game here.>>
Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack and Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski fired first-half goals to give Germany a 2-1 win over hard-working Russia in Saturday's World Cup qualifier in Dortmund.
Germany remain a point clear at the top of Group Four on seven points with two wins and a draw after their win over Guus Hiddink's Russia team who are fourth in the table with three points from last month's 2-1 win over Wales.
Podolski and captain Ballack scored within the first half hour to give the home side a 2-0 lead at the break. But Russian play-maker Andrei Arshavin scored early in the second-half and the guests had Germany under pressure right up to the final whistle.
"We played well in the first-half and grabbed two nice goals," said Ballack, who missed Germany's last two games with injury. "But the Russians didn't allow us any peace and so nearly earned a goal right up until the end." Podolski finds it easier to get into the Germany team than the Bayern side having spent most of the season on the bench and the 23-year-old now has 31 goals in 58 internationals.
"The coach gave me the chance again and I paid the confidence back with a good game," said Podolski. "That was one of our best performances, but the Russians had us under intense pressure in the second-half."
Injuries meant striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, defender Denis Kolodin and midfielder Dmitry Torbinsky were all missing from Hiddink's selection. The only surprise in Joachim Löw's Germany team was the midfield inclusion of Stuttgart's Thomas Hitzlsperger for fit-again Torsten Frings, who along with Ballack, missed last month's 6-0 win in Liechtenstein and the 3-3 draw in Helsinki through injury.
A broken hand suffered by first-choice goalkeeper Robert Enke on Wednesday gave Bayer Leverkusen's 23-year-old Rene Adler his debut in goal for Germany. He was tested early on when Yuri Zhirkov got in behind the German defence and put in a cross which lone striker Pavel Pogrebnyak just failed to convert inside the first five minutes.
German defender Philipp Lahm and Ballack both went close moments later as the home side increased the pressure. Germany took the lead when striker Miroslav Klose slipped the ball through the defence and Podolski turned his marker before making sure he was the first to the ball in the penalty area to fire home on nine minutes.
And the home side went 2-0 ahead when Bastian Schweinsteiger's pass put his captain Ballack into the penalty area and the Chelsea star volleyed home from five metres out on 28 minutes. It was so nearly 3-0 when Podolski rifled his shot home on 33 minutes, but Akinfeev pushed the ball around the post to make it 2-0 at the break.
Russia's attack - which so impressed during Euro 2008 when they reached the semi-finals - finally made an impact on 51 minutes when Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Arshavin stabbed home his shot with Adler under intense pressure. Germany were soon back on the attack and ex-Aston Villa midfielder Hitzlsperger went close with a long-range volley approaching the hour mark and Hamburg winger Piotr Trochowski beat Akinfeev, but hit the bar moments later.
Russia should have equalised when a ball over the defence put Progrebnyak one-on-one with Adler, but the German keeper scrambled away the danger. Adler was repeatedly tested in the dying minutes, but Germany held their lead to take the three points.
In the next round of Group Four games, Germany face Wales at home in Mönchengladbach on Wednesday, the same night Russia play Finland in Moscow.
Veteran striker Miroslav Klose saved Germany with a hat-trick to seal a late 3-3 draw against Finland in Wednesday night's World Cup 2010 qualifier. Euro 2008 finalists Germany were looking down the barrel of a defeat orchestrated by Finland's former Liverpool forward Daniel Sjolund who had earlier put his side 3-2 ahead early in the second-half.
But Klose, 30, used every bit of his experience on the day he won his 84th cap to complete his hat-trick in the 83rd minute to give Germany a valuable point in Group 4 in their quest to reach the next World Cup in South Africa.
The home side got off to a flying start when they took the lead after Malmo striker Jonatan Johansson capitalised on a mistake in the German defence and fired home on 32 minutes to the delight of the home crowd. Germany responded quickly when Klose held off a challenge from Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia and fired home just six minutes later.
Finland reclaimed the lead with half-time approaching when midfielder Mika Vayrynen scored a superb goal after converting a pin-point accurate cross from Sjolund. But just 90 seconds later, Klose struck again when he drove a bullet header at Finland goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and although the Bolton Wanderers man parried the shot, Klose followed up to make it 2-2 at half-time.
After the break, Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke made a fine save but the home side took the lead for the third time as Sjolund was allowed a free header in the 53rd minute.
In an effort to get the third equalising goal, Löw threw on a third striker in Stuttgart's Mario Gomez and the move paid off. The home side had a lucky escape on 78 minutes when Klose looked to have scored his hat-trick with a header, only for Werder Bremen defender Petri Pasanen to clear the ball off the goal-line.
It was Gomez who created the pressure in defence for Klose to finally stab the ball home on 83 minutes and the Bayern Munich striker nearly grabbed a fourth with Germany threatening in the game's dying minutes.
Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has been ruled out of Germany's forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein on Saturday and Finland four days later.
The German football federation revealed that Ballack is suffering from a bruised foot and will miss the opening games in Group Four. The federation had earlier suggested the 31-year-old could recover in time for the trip to Helsinki, but Ballack confirmed he would miss both fixtures.
Coach Joachim Löw, speaking at Oliver Kahn's farewell match in Munich, said: "Michael will not be playing against Finland," Löw said. "Because he must have a break of eight or nine days."
The 32-year-old suffered the knock in Chelsea's opening-day victory over Portsmouth on August 17, which caused him to pull out of Germany's 2-0 friendly win over Belgium. A combination of rest and treatment looked to have solved the problem as Ballack returned for the Blues against Wigan, only for the injury to flare up again and rule him out of the qualifiers.
German coach Joachim Löw has nominated Andreas Hinkel for the two World Cup qualifying games against Liechtenstein on Saturday, September 6 and Finland on Wednesday, September 10.
The 26-year old defensive player is currently playing for Scotland’s champions Celtic Glasgow. He had his debut in the German team on April 30, 2003, in a game against Serbia-Montenegro. On September 3, 2005, Hinkel played his last game in the black-and-white uniform, a 2-0 defeat against Bratislava.
"Andreas is a regular with Celtic, where he has shown some good games", said Löw following Hinkel’s nomination.
Andreas Hinkel was called up as a replacement for Torsten Frings, who is out due to a nasal bone fracture. Captain Michael Ballack is also still doubtful as he still has problems with his foot.
Torsten Frings has been ruled out of the first two games of the qualifying round for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Frings called up coach Joachim Löw on Sunday evening to report that he was unable to compete. Germany play Liechtenstein on Saturday, September 6 in Vaduz and Finland on Wednesday, September 10 in Helsinki
The midfielder is out due to a nasal bone fracture which he suffered in a collision during a basketball game at a publicity event of his club Werder Bremen on the island Spiekeroog. Frings underwent surgery in a hospital in Bremen.
Still doubtful for the games is Michael Ballack. The German skipper still has problems with his foot and he missed the match of his club FC Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspurs on Sunday.
Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has hinted he may try to play at the World Cup in South Africa in two years' time.
The 39-year-old was widely expected to announce his retirement from international football after this summer's European Championships but he sees no reason why he cannot continue.
'I will discuss this issue in the near future with (Germany coach) Joachim Loew and to talk about it before then would be form, but I can live with the speculation,' said Lehmann, who moved to Stuttgart from Arsenal on a one-year contract this summer.
'Which player between the age of 18 and 40 can predict whether they will still be playing as well in two years anyway?
'I would even be prepared to (sit on the bench) at a World Cup. I would never say never.
'We will have to see what happens (after this year).'
The president of the German Football Association has revealed Germany is not one of the countries on standby to host the 2010 World Cup should South Africa be unable to stage the event.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter recently claimed three countries were in line to step in should South Africa not be ready for the tournament in two years' time.
Fears over South Africa's preparations have arisen since it emerged the new stadium in Port Elizabeth had fallen behind schedule and would not be ready in time to stage Confederations Cup games next summer.
But German FA (DFB) chief Theo Zwanziger feels staging the World Cup for the second time in four years would be too much to ask for the 2006 hosts.
'Our country is fundamentally not ready to host the 2010 World Cup if the problems in South Africa are not resolved in time,' he told the German media.
'We would be barking up the wrong tree if we tried to repeat the fantastic summer fairytale of 2006.'
DFB spokesman Harald Stenger added: 'Mr Blatter has not yet contacted the DFB with regards to this and has not informed us of his intentions either.'
