Klose career culminates in great Germany Ghana game

“Welcome to the club Klose,” tweeted Ronaldo, the only man who has managed to score as many times as the 36-year-old Germany striker at World Cup finals. Plaudits have come thick and fast for the veteran frontman after he poached an equalising goal in an absorbing Group G game against Ghana.

What this entire tournament in Brazil is about for Miroslav Klose, a 33/1 shot with Coral to be tournament top scorer, is equalling or breaking records. Gerd Muller’s long-standing tally of 68 as all-time German international leading marksman was surpassed by the Lazio attacker during the warm-up friendly demolition of Armenia.

Polish-born Klose now has 70 goals for Die Mannschaft, and that figure has a nice, round feel about it. He will be hungry to make it 71, however, and hold the most World Cup strikes record outright.

“I’m awfully happy for Klose,” said Germany boss Joachim Low. “It’s sensational for me to have this kind of player on the bench knowing they can make a decisive move.” Almost everything was sensational about this cut and thrust 2-2 draw with the Black Stars, mind.

Klose is not first-choice anymore for his country. It always looked likely that Low would start with Thomas Muller as a ‘false number nine’; see his hat-trick against Portugal to find out why. Yet, the young pretender and the veteran stager have the same knack of being a lethal penalty box presence.

As Low alluded to above, though, in tight games or matches where Germany are losing, what could be finer than bringing on an experienced striker that knows how to be in the right place at the right time? It’s that instinct which allowed Klose to prod home Benedikt Howedes’ knockdown from a Toni Kroos corner and rescue a point.

Following a goalless first half, hat-trick hero Muller turned provider for Mario Gotze, whose inelegant header put Germany in front. Low’s lead was short-lived, however, as Andre Ayew swiftly levelled for Ghana. The Marseille man capitalised on an enforced change at the break, getting in front of substitute marker Shkodran Mustafi to nod in Harrison Afful’s centre.

Two former Premier League players then combined to complete a Black Stars turnaround. Sulley Muntari’s through ball put Asamoah Gyan in the clear, but Klose had the last word by scoring with his first touch.