Miroslav Klose has hit a lean run of form for
club and country (@Getty Images)
As Miroslav Klose looks to end a goalscoring famine against
Slovakia in Hamburg, some German fans feel uncertainty over the future
is unsettling the striker.
Barren spell
Klose has not scored in the league since Werder Bremen's 3-2 defeat by
DSC Arminia Bielefeld on 29 April and last found the target for Germany
in September's 13-0 rout of San Marino. A 6-0 win against San Marino in
the first of their two June UEFA EURO 2008T qualifying ties on Saturday
saw Klose's barren spell continue. Once a model of commitment with his
tireless running, the striker - who turns 29 on Saturday - looks out of
sorts.
Bayern rumours
The player has complained he has never quite recovered from a bacterial
infection he picked up in January, but fans and team-mates are not convinced.
Persistent rumours that he had agreed to join FC Bayern Munchen in the
summer of 2008, when his contract at Bremen expires, have dogged Klose
this season, and his club and country team-mate Torsten Frings is eager
for the situation to be resolved.
Frings frustration
Frings said: "Of course, he is very useful to us, but given the trouble
of the past months I don't really think he wants to continue to play for
Werder. If that's the case, he should just leave." The usually taciturn
Klose replied: "If you know Torsten, you know he says one thing one
day and another the next. I didn't said anything when he was linked with
Juventus but I can't influence whether he chooses to say something about
me. Frankly, I don't care."
Beckenbauer concerned
Franz Beckenbauer does care, and the Bayern president is eager for Klose's
future to be resolved. "It's obvious he is troubled by the situation.
Both clubs should meet and agree terms. Fans should remember how much
joy Klose gave them with his five goals at the [FIFA] World Cup. We wouldn't
have reached the semi-finals without his goal against Argentina."
Gomez glad
With Germany comfortably top of UEFA EURO 2008T qualifying Group D, coach
Joachim Low is standing by Klose, insisting he will start against Slovakia.
That should mean that Mario Gomez, who scored twice against San Marino,
will start on the bench. He is not too concerned, saying: "I have
played just twice for Germany, while Miro has played on the highest level
for seven years now." Whether German fans will continue to be so
patient with Klose if his dog days continue is another matter.
