27 March 2008

Basle, Switzerland (dpa) – Euro co-hosts suffered a humiliating 4- 0 defeat at home against Germany in an international friendly played in Basle on Wednesday night.

Goals by Miroslav Klose (23), Mario Gomez (61 and 67) and Lukas Podolski (88) gave Germany a convincing victory.

Germany, whose first-ever international was also against Switzerland in Basle, took the lead midway through the first half after Bastian Schweinsteiger sent Gomez into space on the right flank.

The VfB Stuttgart striker played the ball into goalmouth where Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio managed only to palm it into the way of Klose, who had a simple tap-in.

The home side nearly drew level on the half hour as Philippe Senderos found an unmarked Alexander Frei in the German goalmouth, but the Borussia Dortmund striker put his header into the arms of German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

Shortly before the break, Schweinsteiger was lucky to escape with a yellow card after throttling an opponent, but the Swiss failed to capitalize from the resultant free-kick.

Germany continued the second half where they left off after the first 45 minutes and added two goals in the space of six minutes.

In the 61st minute Werder Bremen midfielder Clemens Fritz managed to rob Tranquillo Barnetta of the ball and pushed it sideways to Gomez, who side-footed his shot past Benaglio.

Six minutes later Gomez beat the offside trap after being sent through by German substitute Podolski. Benaglio was unlucky as Gomez’ shot went in through his legs.

Two minutes from the end Podolski scored with a breakaway goal after going around Benaglio.

[Copyright dpa 2008]