Miroslav Klose made history in the 2014 World Cup semi-final against Brazil by becoming the all-time World Cup scorer, overtaking Selecao legend Ronaldo.
The Lazio striker made history with his 16th strike in the finals and is also the only man ever to score at least four across three different tournaments.
Forza Italian Football brings you each of the 36-year-old’s goals, starting in sweltering Sapporo 12 years ago and culminating in a magical night in Brazil in 2014.
1. Saudi Arabia (8-0) – World Cup 2002 group stages
Klose’s first goal in the tournament was, unsurprisingly given his aerial reputation, a header when he knelt to steer the ball home in what would be the first of eight German goals against Saudi Arabia.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FaUg-LG_vo[/youtube]
2. Saudi Arabia (8-0) – World Cup 2002 group stages
The Polish-born forward claimed his second goal of the match, and Germany’s second, with a powerful header from a Michael Ballack cross to put the Germans on easy street against the Saudis.
It is interesting to note how his trademark flip celebration was no longer present in 2014 (a somewhat failed attempt at Ghana notwithstanding) and was replaced with a relived sinking to his knees in South America.
0:12 of the video below:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FaUg-LG_vo[/youtube]
3. Saudi Arabia (8-0) – World Cup 2002 group stages
Klose’s hat-trick arrived when he claimed his hat-trick of headers in that same game when he headed low into the ground and into the back of the net for number five that night.
0:49 of the video below:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FaUg-LG_vo[/youtube]
4. Republic of Ireland (1-1) – World Cup 2002 group stages
In his second World Cup finals game, Klose grabbed his fourth goal and yet again it was with his head as he swiftly sent a Ballack cross under Irish goalkeeper Shay Given in a 1-1 draw.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaeykDu3zrk[/youtube]
5. Cameroon (2-0) – World Cup 2002 group stages
Klose scored number five against Cameroon in Germany’s third group game and it was the same old story for his country. Ballack cross, Klose header, certain goal.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbLTZ2MSpUw[/youtube]
6. Costa Rica (4-2) – World Cup 2006 group stages
Host nation Germany laid down a marker in 2006 when Klose helped his side to a 4-2 win, he scored at last with his feet against Costa Rice in the tournament opener, sweeping home Bastian Schweinsteiger’s low cross.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olCT2TSqbWY[/youtube]
7. Costa Rica (4-2) – World Cup 2006 group stages
Klose put his side 3-1 up in the same game in 2006 when he was denied at first with a save to his header but turned home the rebound with an emphatic header.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olCT2TSqbWY[/youtube]
8. Ecuador (3-0) – World Cup 2006 group stages
A smart volley against Ecuador in Berlin put his side 1-0 to the good and showed that he was not perhaps the one trick pony his heading ability had him labelled as after all.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVa5NF5HjP0[/youtube]
9. Ecuador (3-0) – World Cup 2006 group stages
He added a second for himself and for Germany in that game when he rounded the goalkeeper to tap the ball into an empty net for Jurgen Klinsmann’s side.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVa5NF5HjP0[/youtube]
10. Argentina (1-1 AET – Germany win 4-2 on pens) – World Cup 2006 quarter-final
His first World Cup finals goal in the knockout stages arrived when his country needed him most, at 1-0 down to Argentina in extra time he headed home Lukas Podolski’s flick on to send it to penalties where, inevitably, his side were victorious.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zmoLkW_eZQ[/youtube]
11. Australia (4-0) – World Cup 2010 group stages
Klose got his 11th in South Africa in 2010 by beating the goalkeeper to a cross against Australia and plant the ball into the back of the net with a firm header.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlC9-EtrHC4[/youtube]
12. England (4-1) – World Cup 2010 last 16
Who says Germany don’t do route one? Against England, he was the quickest on to a Manuel Neuer goal kick to race behind a static English defence and prod home the opener that set his side on the way to a 4-1 success.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pHYdmygHho[/youtube]
13. Argentina (4-0) – World Cup 2010 quarter-final
Poor Argentina. They had Klose to blame for their 2006 heartbreak and four years later he was at it again, this time scoring the second in a 4-0 hammering and this one was probably the easiest of the lot, a simple tap in.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf7Y0g41dFc[/youtube]
14. Argentina (4-0) – World Cup 2010 quarter-final
His second in that game was a little tougher as he steered Mesut Ozil’s deflected cross into the net to send his side to the semi-finals and continue that amazing trend (that remains) – Germany have never lost a game he has scored in.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esX_zCbWpmA[/youtube]
15. Ghana (2-2) – World Cup 2014 group stage
The record equaller arrived in typical Klose fashion, a six yard box finish to a Benedikt Howedes header to rescue a point against Ghana – not one of his World Cup goals would come outside the penalty area.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNI3LvFC3A8[/youtube]
16. Brazil (7-1) – World Cup 2014 semi-final
Incredibly, in a game in which he made history, his own performance and goal would play second fiddle as Germany ran riot against Brazil but he supplied a finish to a lovely German move by firing past Julio Cesar after his first attempt had been saved.
Congratulations Miro.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olG0x5Rw-10[/youtube]
