Klose ends playing career, will train as coach with Germany

The German soccer federation says striker Miroslav Klose, the top scorer in World Cup history, is ending his playing career and will train as a coach.

The 38-year-old Klose retired from international soccer after winning the World Cup with Germany in 2014, scoring twice to bring his total goal tally from four tournaments to 16. With a career total of 71 goals, Klose is also the highest-scoring player for Germany.

Klose’s contract with Lazio expired after last season. The German federation says that, in consultation with coach Joachim Loew and technical director Hansi Flick, Klose will now undergo an individual training program “with the clear aim of embarking on a coaching career.”

Klose, who played 137 games for Germany, will now become part of the national team setup.

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Joachim Low aims brilliant dig at Thomas Muller after striker scores twice for Germany

Muller fired a blank at Euro 2016 but was back among the goals for the Germans in their 3-0 win against Norway

Joachim Low aimed a dig at Thomas Muller after his double in Sunday's 2018 World Cup qualifying win against Norway.

The Bayern Munich star fired a blank at Euro 2016 as one of the pre-tournament favourites lost to France in the semi-finals.

However, Muller dusted himself down and was back among the goals as the Germans beat Norway 3-0.

"For Thomas Muller, I would have preferred it if he would have scored some goals at the European Championship," joked Low after the game.

Muller failed to find the net during the Euros

"He worked a lot and had many chances but did not score any goals."

Germany put their Euro 2016 heartbreak behind them to make a storming start to their qualifying campaign.

Muller bagged a brace and also set up a first international goal for Joshua Kimmich as Low's side cruised to victory in Oslo.

The Bayern Munich star put his woes behind him against Norway

Muller celebrates with his teammates

The 56-year-old added: "We played very confidently. Norway did not come into play at all and had no opportunities to score.

"Of course there are things for us to improve - efficiency, for example, was the big problem against France in the Euro 2016 semi-finals."

Bayern Munich need injured forward

Thomas Muller has stressed Arjen Robben remains a key figure for Bayern Munich despite his ongoing injury problems.

Bayern Munich attacker Thomas Muller has underlined the importance of Arjen Robben to the Bundesliga champions and hopes the Netherlands international will soon be fully match fit again.

The winger missed the latter stages of the 2015-16 campaign due to injury and made his comeback in the 4-3 friendly win over Lippstadt at the weekend.

However, Robben suffered a groin problem that will keep him out of action for six weeks and Muller has lamented the Dutchman's rotten luck.

"Arjen's latest injury is extremely bitter for him," Muller told Spox.

"I would not want to be in his shoes now. He had just fought back from another injury.

"I hope that he will soon be fully fit again and will then be available for a longer period of time. Bayern need Arjen. He is hugely important for our attacking game.

"Thank god he knows how to deal with situations like this. He has been there before. Arjen never gives up, even though the past six months or so have not been easy for him."

3 Changes Joachim Low Should Consider as Germany Face Poland

Germany face Poland in their second match of the group stages at Euro 2016 in the Stade de France on Thursday. Seeing as both teams won their opening games against Ukraine and Northern Ireland, respectively, the matchup could already decide the winner of Group C.

If recent history is anything to go by, it's going to be a close contest. The two teams have met three times in the last two years, with one win for each side in the qualifiers and a draw in the warm-up for the 2014FIFA World Cup. Germany won their qualification group with just one point of advantage over Poland, who outscored the world champions by a whopping nine goals in 10 matches.

The eastern Europeans' victory over Northern Ireland was arguably every bit as impressive as Germany's over Ukraine, although it was hard work to break down a fairly defensive-minded opponent whose main focus seemingly was to not allow the imperious RobertLewandowski to score.

Germany allowed more chances in their match, failing to really control the game especially in the first half. Miguel Delaney wrote for ESPN FC: 

Germany were supreme for the first 20 minutes and really moved the ball about slickly. It led to the foul on Thomas Muller and a typically brilliant delivery from Toni Kroos that [Shkodran] Mustafi met with such emphatic power. Once they got that, though, a complacency that has been seen right through qualifying set in, and they were the inferior side until half-time.

Ukraine failed to take advantage of that complacency, but Germany shouldn't expect Poland to do the same. They have a "balanced and deadly strike partnership" in Lewandowski and the roaming ArkadiuszMilik, scorer of the winner against Northern Ireland, as Peter McVitie pointed out for Goal.com.

With Grzegorz Krychowiak masterfully shielding the back line, Poland could prove more difficult to create chances against than Ukraine. With their opponents on Thursday brimming with confidence after their surprisingly strong qualifying campaign and the solid win over Northern Ireland, Germany will have to improve on their first showing in France.

In order to do so, head coach Joachim Low ought to look at making an alteration or two to his squad. The 56-year-old has been reluctant to tinker with his squad in tournaments, adhering to the philosophy that one should never change a winning team. Remarkably, he's never made even a single change from the first match in a major tournament to the second.

Results in those second matches have been mixed at best, with Germany losing 2-1 to Croatia at Euro 2008, 1-0 to Serbia in the 2010 World Cup, a 2-1 win over the Netherlands in 2012 and 2-2 draw with Ghana in Brazil two years ago.

With that in mind, here are three changes Low should consider as Germany prepare to face Poland.

Mats Hummels for Shkodran Mustafi

Let's start with the obvious possibility. Mats Hummels is a regular starter for Germany, forming an impressive partnership with Jerome Boateng at centre-back that was a big part of the team's success in Brazil. Had Borussia Dortmund's team captain not suffered a muscle injury in his final game for the club in the DFB-Pokal final against former and future employer Bayern Munich, Hummels would have started against Ukraine.

As it was, however, Valencia's Mustafi got the nod and did fairly well. Scoring the first and intercepting the ball to start the move that led to Bastian Schweinsteiger's goal, he had a hand in the win. However, the entire defence apart from Boateng didn't exactly look rock-solid against Ukraine.

"A lot of attacks were cleared with a rushed anxiety rather than the assurance they should have been, and it reflected how the defence looked somewhat ill-fitting," Delaney wrote.

Mustafi himself lamented "that Germany had allowed the game to be 'very open, like an English game' before half-time," per Raphael Honigstein for ESPN FC.

It seems like a given that Hummels will return to the starting XI, health permitting. That's a question mark at this point, however. The 27-year-old hasn't played since May 21 and only returned to team training the day before the Ukraine match.

Playing Hummels could be too big a risk for Low, especially given the opposition they face. Lewandowski, arguably the best striker at Euro 2016, is a handful even for defenders in the best shape, and Milik's movement makes him an awkward matchup as well.

Mustafi's aggressive style of defending could be a good fit for that striking duo. Then again, one has to remember Low didn't plan on the 24-year-old replacing Hummels against Ukraine. Rather, he was forced into the decision when Antonio Rudiger tore his anterior cruciate ligament.

Joshua Kimmich for Benedikt Howedes

Schalke's Benedikt Howedes was arguably Germany's weakest link in defence against Ukraine, struggling with Yevhen Konoplyanka from his spot at right-back. "The Sevilla winger exposed Howedes again and again, making him look cumbersome," Jonathan Wilson wrote for Sports Illustrated.

While some of his woes were down to the lack of defensive help from Thomas Muller in front of him, Howedes' lack of agility showed against the effervescent Konoplyanka. It seems almost unfair to criticise the 28-year-old, who, coming off a difficult campaign riddled with injuries, played in a somewhat unfamiliar spot at the service of his team.

With another difficult matchup looming large, however, Low should tap into his options. Nineteen-year-old Bartosz Kapustka was one of the revelations of the first round of matches in France, as Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe highlighted in this video:

Germany don't have a true right-back in their squad, but JoshuaKimmich seems the logical solution against Poland. Despite only playing one full game at that position for Bayern Munich this season—against Hertha Berlin in April, per Transfermarkt.co.uk—the versatile 21-year-old has the required skill set to be of great value to Germany.

His agility and aggression should work well against Kapustka, while he's got the technical and passing skills to contribute to the attack more than Howedes managed against Ukraine. The following graphic shows how high up the pitch Germany involved the natural centre-back in their moves:

Kimmich looks far better suited for that role than Howedes, and the risk of playing a 21-year-old in only his second international cap seems negligible: Despite their below-average results in second matches at tournaments under Low, Germany has always made the final four.

Mario Gomez for Mario Gotze

"The scrutiny on Mario Gotze is bound to increase," Honigstein wrote after the Ukraine match. "The Bayern Munich midfielder's game as a false nine was unconvincing, as was Muller's deployment on the right. The duo could swap positions for the Poland match, though Gotzemight also be sacrificed altogether in favour of Mario Gomez."

The latter option seems to make the most sense given the way Germany played in their opener against Ukraine. Gotze was cut off from his team's service for large parts of the game, with a surprising amount of rather pointless crosses flying into the area especially in the first half.

Most dangerous situations came when midfielders made runs into the attacking zones, be it Julian Draxler cutting in from the left or SamiKhedira charging forward. Gotze only had eight touches in the first half, according to German broadcaster ARD, and he ended up without being involved in a single real scoring opportunity.

A clinical finisher in every team he's played for over the last decade, Gomez is far more comfortable with being invisible for stretches of a game, as long as he gets that one chance he usually buries with conviction. 

Guardiola's touchline bust-up with Muller

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola argued with Thomas Muller in a heated exchange of words during Saturday's game at FC Ingolstadt 04.

Amidst furious gestures from both parties, the row looked like a serious disagreement between the pair who will be going their separate ways in the summer when the Catalan moves to Manchester City.

He leaves the German club as Bundesliga champions standing eight points clear of Borussia Dortmund with just one game to go.

Liverpool on alert as Thomas Muller reveals Mario Gotze's Bayern Munich 'dissatisfaction'

Mario Götze could be ready to end his Bayern Munich following three seasons at the club after his team-mate, Thomas Müller, admitted that he is “not satisfied” with life at the Bundesliga champions.

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Bayern are closing in on a fourth consecutive Bundesliga title, with Pep Guardiola’s side holding a five-point advantage over Borussia Dortmund in second, although Götze has not featured regularly during the current campaign.

The attacking midfielder has made just 12 appearances for the club this season, although he missed over four months with injury after hurting his thigh while representing Germany in October, and he has been left on the bench as an unused substitute in Bayern’s last two games against Juventus and Cologne.

According to the Express, Götze has attracted interest from both Liverpool and Arsenal, with the former deemed frontrunners for his signature given Götze’s positive relationship with manager Jurgen Klopp after the pair worked together at Borussia Dortmund until 2013.

With Götze currently with the Germany squad ahead of this Saturday’s international friendly against England, Müller has admitted that the 23-year-old could assess his future at the end of the season given his current standing in the Bayern squad.

"I speak with Mario and think he is not 100 per cent satisfied with his situation at Bayern," Muller said.

"But I am not Mario's agent, so I am not going to speak about his future."

The revelation comes after Götze addressed his lack of playing time under Manchester City-bound head coach Guardiola earlier in the season.

Götze said last August: "The last two years were definitely not very simple, we'll see what happens.

"It will work out if Guardiola talks to me more often. I'm going to let everything come to me. Anything beyond that, we'll see."

(© Independent News Service)

Independent News Service

Manchester United prepared to "pay what it takes" for Neymar

According to French paper Le Sport 10, Spanish publication Sport and the Daily Star in England, Manchester United are prepared to pay what it takes to bring Neymar to Manchester United from Barcelona. The English club has been linked with the Brazilian captain for several months.

Neymar is stalling on a new deal with Barcelona and United have been monitoring the situation, with Neymar even admitting that there was contact between the two parties over the summer. Neymar and his father are awaiting trial for alleged tax offences in Spain and say they will not commit to a new deal until the case has been heard.

United have floundered under Louis van Gaal this season, largely due to a lack of creative spark and the Barcelona forward would certainly bring plenty of that to the table. However, big players in Europe have recently used links with the Red Devils as leverage for new contracts, with Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller the most recent example. The aforementioned publications are reporting that United would be willing to meet Barcelona’s asking price, which is likely to be a world record given the market value of the player.

Five players who may leave top Euro clubs in January

With the transfer window now open, teams across the continent could look to strengthen before the end of the month. WhoScored.com take a look at five players in Europe who could be on the move from the continent’s elite.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen – Barcelona

After playing his part in Barcelona’s Champions League success, Marc-Andre ter Stegen is a player who will certainly be keen for regular game time.

The young German only made his debut in La Liga back in September, despite moving to Spain almost 18 months ago, and that was due to Claudio Bravo’s enforced absence. The Chilean has established himself as the club’s number one in Spain’s top tier and has shown no signs that he deserves to relinquish the position to Ter Stegen.

The 23-year-old, though, is a keeper who warrants regular action, particularly if his performances in Europe’s elite competition is anything to go by. Only Gianluigi Buffon and Fernando Muslera (both 54) have made more saves in the Champions League since the start of last season than Ter Stegen (50).

If he is to develop, a move away from Camp Nou could be on the cards having been linked with a January switch. Liverpool have been credited with an interest in the young German, who would surely be an upgrade on Simon Mignolet.

Isco – Real Madrid

While Rafa Benitez’s sacking could convince the creator to remain at the Bernabeu, Isco’s lack of first team opportunities thus far will no doubt have led him to consider that his future may lie elsewhere.

Indeed, behind the likes of Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez in the Real Madrid pecking order, the 23-year-old is another who, like Ter Stegen, needs regular game time if he wishes to realise his immense potential.

Isco has impressed for Los Blancos in the Champions League this season, with his six appearances returning a WhoScored.com rating of 7.59, the 28th best in the competition. His three assists are bettered only by five players on four.

Nonetheless, he warrants first team action, not waiting on the peripheries of the starting XI hoping for his chance to shine. Zinedine Zidane’s appointment may persuade the player to stay put for the time being, but any top team needing to acquire a creative midfielder could do far worse than test Madrid’s resolve to retain Isco’s services.

Marquinhos – PSG

For a team that has shipped just nine league goals this season, PSG have no need to alter their defence at present. The age old adage ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ is certainly applicable to the Parisian outfit, who are the only team yet to lose in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

With the David Luiz-Thiago Silva axis currently Laurent Blanc’s favoured centre-back pairing, this has meant Marquinhos has often been forced to contend with a place on the bench.

A lack of first-team action has seen the young Brazilian question his future at PSG, though the player insists he will not look to leave France this month.

However, Manchester United and Chelsea have both been linked with the 21-year-old, who boasts the joint-second best pass success rate (93.8%) in Ligue 1 this season.

United and Chelsea prefer to play the ball out from the back and Marquinhos is indeed a centre-back who would match the requirements of the two teams having gained a WhoScored.com strength of ‘passing’.

Interest will intensify between now and the end of the month in the youngster’s signature, particularly if he continues to struggle for regular game time over the coming weeks.

Mario Gotze – Bayern Munich

Once dubbed the German Messi, Mario Gotze has failed to match expectations following his controversial switch from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich. Having dropped behind Thomas Muller, Douglas Costa and Arturo Vidal in the pecking order, the World Cup winner has seen his opportunities limited, with injury restricting Gotze to just four league starts this term.

One goal and three assists have contributed to a WhoScored.com rating of 7.23, though Gotze may be tempted against a move away from Bayern. With Pep Guardiola leaving at the end of the season, the slate would be wiped clean for the 23-year-old, with the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti presenting him with the chance to re-establish himself at the Allianz Arena.

However, with Euro 2016 looming and Gotze hoping to secure his place in the Germany side, a January transfer bid tempt the young attacker to consider his future at the Bundesliga champions.

Simone Zaza – Juventus

A number of teams across Europe will look to strengthen their frontline this month in a bid to achieve their seasonal goal, with many on the lookout for a new striker. They could certainly do a lot worse than move for Simone Zaza, who has struggled for regular first team action upon his permanent return to Juventus from Sassuolo.

The Italy international has made just three league starts this season, with Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata ahead of Zaza in Max Allegri’s picks.

Given reports suggest Juventus will re-sign Domenico Berardi at the end of the season, the club may entertain offers for the 24-year-old frontman this month. Tottenham are a team in need of a striker to ease the burden on Harry Kane, and so could look to Zaza as a means of swelling the attacking ranks.

The striker seems tailor made for English football and one would expect interest in his signature to increase as the transfer window’s end begins to edge closer.