Klinsi's Squad Dismantles Thais

After their 3-1 loss to South Korea on Sunday, coach Jürgen Klinsmann gave several of his first-string players a break, most notably goalie Oliver Kahn and midfield playmaker Michael Ballack. On Tuesday, the reserves put in an impressive performance against a hopelessly undermanned Thailand winning 5-1.

The goals came from Kevin Kuranyi (34th and 38th minute), Lukas Podolski (73rd and 89th) as well as Gerald Asamoah (84th minute). Thailand put a bit of fear into the Germans at one point by pulling to within just one goal in the 57th minute on a goal by striker Chaikamdee Sarayoot.

The match was played primarily in one direction — that of the Thai goal. Thailand's coach, former German national player Siggi Held, can thank his goalkeeper Kosin Hathairattanakool that the final score was not more lopsided. After the game, Held expressed his irritation by saying that his team did not do what he has drilled into them on the practice field.

Missed opportunities in the first 30 minutes

German coach Jürgen Klinsmann was more relaxed in the post-match interview. On German public television, he complimented the team for pushing forward the whole match. In the first half-hour of the game, though, he must have been raging inside.

Compared to Sunday's match, there was lots of room for both teams to develop their games, particularly on the German side. Strikers Asamoah und Thomas Brdaric gave away clear chances. Bastian Schweinsteiger's direct kick hit the crossbar.

Finally, 11 minutes before the half, Kuranyi broke the scoreless tie after a Thai player lost the ball to him outside the penalty area. Four minutes later, Asamoah lofted a cross to Kuranyi who headed the ball into the goal. That seemed to be all that the Germans needed to take apart the team ranked 79th in the world.

Podolski scores first goals for Germany

In the second half, Brdaric hit metal and then Thailand struck. Friedrich nonchalantly lost a ball at midfield and the Thais raced downfield leaving keeper Hildebrand without a chance. Klinsmann then brought in Lukas Podolski who revived the Germans.

His two goals, his first on the national team, certainly raised his stock of claiming a spot on the World Cup 2006 squad.

"I just wanted to go in there and play a good game," said the Cologne striker. That he did. The Germans can be happy to have won so easily in Bangkok, but they did it in a rather lackluster manner.

Asian tour starts off on positive note

Going to Asia, most of the German side thought that Japan would provide the real challenge. On paper the Japanese, under a former Brazilian superstar, stood even higher (17th) in the world rankings than the Germans (19th). That, however, shows how flawed ranking systems can be.

Despite arriving just two days before in Yokohama, Germany played strongly. Midfielder Michael Ballack was anxious to run on the pitch of the World Cup final stadium from two years ago. Then he had to watch from the sidelines because he had received a second yellow card in the semifinal against South Korea.

It was a match of firsts since the German coach is still experimenting with possible lineups during the long march to World Cup 2006. Defenders Patrick Owomoyela and Christian Schulz made their debuts on the national team. Owomoyela made a good impression, Schulz less so.

Particularly satisfying to Klinsmann was that Ballack played with zeal and imagination in a strong second half. The Bayern Munich playmaker was rewarded with his first goal under the new coach. Striker Miroslav Klose scored twice more as Germany surprisingly walked over the Asian champion, 3-0.

Klinsmann noted afterwards that there was a clear difference between the two sides. Even better, the record of the German team since Jürgen Klinsmann took over for Rudi Völler in July stood at four wins and one draw.

First loss for coach Klinsmann

The euphoria of Yokohama would become dismay at Pusan three days later. On Sunday, the Germans suffered defeat at the hands of South Korea, the team that they had beaten to advance to the finals of the World Cup in 2002.

Ballack took a beating in the match, the victim of numerous fouls committed by aggressive South Korean players. Nevertheless, he managed to score another goal which knotted the game 1-1 but failed to convert a penalty kick late in the game that would have tied the game 2-2. The second half was all South Korea as it began to look like Germany were suffering from jet lag. Ballack recognized that they were "penalized" for the mistakes made in the second half.

Klinsmann put things into perspective, even praising the team for permanently attacking. Characteristic of the optimistic coach, he said it was most important to get back on track in the Thailand match. They succeeded in doing this.

The national squad will have time to think about their performance on the long plane ride back to Germany. They beat Japan and Thailand, but lost their first-ever match to an Asian opponent on Sunday against South Korea. Klinsmann has made an indelible mark on the German national team, something not just any coach can say.