Germany Plays Textbook Soccer - Defeats the Netherland 3-0

The 2nd ranked Netherlands met 3rd ranked European club Germany in a Friendly.  Germany wasted litttle time to start dominating the match.   Jogi Loew decided to go with just one striker and gave Miroslav Klose the nod over Mario Gomez.  The decision paid off.  There was excellent interaction between Klose, Mueller and Ozil.  Ozil was involved in every goal. Germany defeated the Netherlands 3-0

After testing each other for the first few minutes of the match, Germany dominated quickly in the first half .   With quick counters especially with good combinations from Mueller to Oezil and then Klose, the Dutch defence was often overburdened during the first half.   Snijder, who picked up a yellow card, mostly out of frustration, was able to direct the team of the Dutch offence.  At the end of the first 45, the 2-0 German lead humbled the Netherlands.

Thomas Mueller scored the first goal after just 15 minutes into the match when a long pass by Toni Kroos from the left side to Klose, who took his time and pushed the ball to the penalty spot, where Mueller moved onto the ball and pushed it into the corner of the net.  1-0 lead for Germany was perfect.

Klose made it 2-0 for Germany in the 26th minute.  Picture perfect passes and a soccer textbook goal showed the class of the German side.  Mueller moves on the ball on the move  and passes it on the right flank.  Ozil one times it in the direction of the 16 metre area to Klose, who anticipated the ball and heads the ball into the net.  This was Klose's 63rd international goal. 

The score remained at 2-0 at the 45.  Hummels comes into the match replacing Badstuber at the start of the second half.

The Dutch came out a little more determined in the second half, but the German side continued to play brilliant soccer.  Oezil made it 3-0 in the 66th minute.   Klose picks up the ball on the right side and passes it to Mueller who takes a few steps and passes it to Ozil, who makes a perfect delivery to Klose and then back to Ozil, who easily puts it into the net.

Overall Germany had a convincing victory.  The defence was solid and Loew's decision to work with one striker paid off.  Germany is in a good position prior to start the European Championship.  No doubt, this victory will give it the confidence to succeed.  

Starting Line Ups (Brackets indicate age followed by caps)

Germany-1 Neuer/Bayern München (25 Jahre/25 Länderspiele) - 20 Boateng/Bayern München (23/19), 17 Mertesacker/FC Arsenal (27/79), 14 Badstuber/Bayern München (22/18), 4 Aogo/Hamburger SV (24/9) - 18 Kroos/Bayern München (21/24), 6 Khedira/Real Madrid (24/24) - 13 Müller/Bayern München (22/25), 8 Özil/Real Madrid (23/30), 10 Podolski (26/95) - 11 Klose/Lazio Rom (33/113)

The Netherlands 1 Stekelenburg/AS Rom (29/44) - 2 van der Wiel/Ajax Amsterdam (23/29), 3 Heitinga/FC Everton (28/74), 4 Mathijsen/FC Malaga (31/78), 5 Braafheid/1899 Hoffenheim (28/10) - 6 van Bommel/AC Mailand (34/73), 8 Strootman/PSV Eindhoven (21/10) - 7 Kuyt/FC Liverpool (31/84), 10 Sneijder/Inter Mailand (27/80), 11 Babel/1899 Hoffenheim (24/42) - 9 Huntelaar/Schalke 04 (28/49)