Klose, Podolski lead Germany to easy win over Luxembourg

Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and Oliver Neuville struck two goals apiece as Germany helped themselves to a 7-0 win over Luxembourg yesterday, the first of three World Cup warm-ups for the host country.

Klose scored the first in the fifth minute and Germany were 3-0 up by halftime, with Torsten Frings scoring a penalty and Podolski sweeping in from Tim Borowski's long pass.

Klose smacked the ball into the roof of the net in the 59th minute, Podolski converted another penalty six minutes later and Neuville scored two last-gasp goals to ensure Germany had no reason to bemoan the absence of injured captain Michael Ballack.

Germany have tougher tests to come against Japan on May 30 and Colombia on June 2 before they get the World Cup going with a Group A match against Costa Rica in Munich on June 9.