Soccer: Podolski shines as Germany advance

Sweden's Fredrik Ljungberg (left) walks past Germany's Per Mertesacker and Michael Ballack after the final whistle in this morning's Round of 16 clash. Picture / Reuters

MUNICH - Germany's two-goal match-winner Lukas Podolski said the hosts were growing as a team and in confidence after cruising into the World Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 defeat of Sweden earlier this morning (NZ time).

Podolski scored in the fourth and 12th minutes after linking up with strike partner Miroslav Klose. The German pair look as lethal a partnership now as any in the tournament.

"We knew it would be a difficult match -- we scored the goals and then we grew in confidence," Podolski told reporters.

Germany's only worrying moment was in the 53rd minute when Sweden striker Henrik Larsson blasted a penalty over the bar after being tripped by Christoph Metzelder.

"We were lucky with the penalty (miss) but in the end it was a deserved victory," Podolski continued.

"Since we started working in preparation for the World Cup we have grown as a team. I contributed to winning but it was the team that won, not me." Asked about his previously-criticised partnership with Klose, Podolksi said simply: "You saw it today."


Larsson said he had mis-hit his penalty. "I hit the ball very badly. I did not want it in that (top right-hand) corner, I wanted in the other corner and lower down," he told reporters.

Asked if he blamed himself for the defeat, he replied: "No, we win as a team and we lose as a team."

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback said he was still proud of his team but they had never really recovered from losing Teddy Lucic in the 35th minute with a red card for two bookings.

"It is difficult to beat anyone with 10 men, especially a team like Germany but my players showed a lot of characther," Lagerback told reporters.

"I'm very proud of the way they played in the second half but we let in two easy goals at the beginning. After that it was very difficult for us.

"It could not be better," said Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann. "We went in highly concentrated but strangely enough the red card took our rhythm away. The penalty could also have been a turning point but we are excited by the team and how they played.

"It was a top operation. We were very prepared and we respected them, especially the attacking trio. We did not want to concede a goal. We did not want to give them any breathing space."

- REUTERS