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Klose winner gives Germany best of Euro 2012 starts
Sep 3, 2010, 21:36 GMT
Brussels - Miroslav Klose hit a second-half winner as Germany began their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a 1-0 defeat of Belgium in Brussels on Friday.
Klose struck six minutes after the interval after Germany capitalized on a mistake by central defender Daniel van Buyten.
Belgium failed to clear after winning the ball and van Buyten in his own area was caught in possession by Bayern Munich team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger.
In a further Bayern co-production, the ball fell to Thomas Mueller who immediately fed Klose to score.
The victory gives Joachim Loew's side the best of starts in Group A where earlier Turkey earned a 3-0 win in Kazakhstan.
But World Cup semi-finalists Germany were some way from the form they showed in South Africa in summer, and Belgium could count themselves unfortunate not to get at least a point from the game.
With Georges Leekens at the helm for a second time, Belgium - without a win over Germany or West Germany since 1954 - put in a spirited performance and had Germany on the back foot for spells.
However the home side were rarely able to fashion any clearcut chances, with the best opportunity a long-range effort from Moussa Dembele shortly before half-time which an outstretched Manuel Neuer just managed to turn past the post.
At the other end keeper Logan Bailly prevented a second goal for the Germans 20 minutes from time when he saved well from Thomas Mueller after a good run into the right of the box by Phillip Lahm.
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