Germany masterful in 4-0 drubbing of Australia

12:40, 14 June 2010

BAKU. June 14. KAZINFORM Three-time world champions Germany warned doubters they are real title contenders Sunday with a 4-0 victory over 10-man Australia for the perfect start to their 2010 World Cup campaign, dpa reported.

Man of the Match Lukas Podolski struck in the eighth minute and Miroslav Klose snapped out of his slump with Germany's second goal in the 26th minute.

Australian Tim Cahill was sent off in the 56th minute for a reckless tackle and effectively ended any chance of an Australian comeback. Thomas Mueller made it 3-0 in the 68th minute and Cacua put the icing on the cake for the Germans by adding a fourth in the 70th minute.

The victory - Germany's sixth straight to start a World Cup - pushed Joachim Loew's men atop Group D on goal difference ahead of Ghana, which defeated Serbia 1-0 earlier in the day.

"We had some luck at the beginning, and you can tell that we are a young team. But we found our game and showed that we have good quality," German captain Philipp Lahm said.

"The victory was good and we did a lot of things well. But it's just one game and we still have to work to do," said German boss Loew, Trend News reports.

See www.en.trend.az

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