BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil – Miroslav Klose found perhaps the only way to make matters worse for Brazil.
On a night when Germany routed the host nation 7-1 in the World Cup semifinals, Klose also became the tournament’s all-time record scorer – surpassing Brazil great Ronaldo.
Klose scored Germany’s second goal in the 23rd minute, giving him 16 career World Cup goals. It broke the mark of 15 goals he shared with the retired Ronaldo, who worked the game as a TV commentator.
Klose scored after a corner by Toni Kroos. His first effort was parried by Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar, but Klose calmly stroked the rebound home.
The 36-year-old Lazio striker, playing at his fourth World Cup, also scored in Germany’s 2-2 draw with Ghana in the group stage when he came off the bench to get Germany back into the contest.
Given the occasion in Belo Horizonte, a special celebration surely was in the works. But Klose refrained even from doing his trademark back flip to mark the goal, which came in his 23rd World Cup match.
“I got hit in my left foot while attempting a shot, and I was not able to do the flip,” Klose said.
While Klose played down the record and attributed his scoring record to Germany’s teamwork and strong set piece, head coach Joachim Loew praised the veteran striker.
“Miro is incredible. To set the record and to do it in Brazil is a great performance,” Loew said. “It really means a lot to all of us. This is a record. This is a record that could be beaten only by (Thomas) Mueller.
“We believe that he really deserves it. Because at his age, he still is playing at the highest possible level.”
Mueller scored the opening goal against Brazil and now has 10 goals in two World Cup tournaments.
Klose began the tournament on the bench, but Loew has returned to the one-striker formation, and it is paying off.
With 70 goals in 134 matches, Poland-born Klose is Germany’s all-time top scorer, having beaten the record previously held by Gerd Mueller.
Klose was the top scorer and Golden Boot winner at the 2006 World Cup in Germany with five goals. Klose also scored five goals in his first World Cup, in 2002. He scored four at South Africa in 2010.
