FC Bayern Forum

07.09.2006

Bayern's international contingent enjoyed a thoroughly satisfying evening in Euro 2008 qualifying on Wednesday, with victories for all the nations featuring men from Munich.

Germany continued their winning start to the qualifying campaign with a thumping 13-0 victory in San Marino, the three-time World Cup winners' highest-ever away triumph and their biggest margin of victory since 1940.

Top scorer in the goal fest was Bayern striker <b>Lukas Podolski</b>, who opened the floodgates on 12 minutes and struck a further three goals in the course of an utterly one-sided contest. "We wanted to score plenty, and we've gone out and done it," a highly satisfied Poldi declared afterwards. Club companion <b>Bastian Schweinsteiger</b> also entertained the 5,000 crowd at the Stadio Olimpico in Serravalle with a brace. <b>Philipp Lahm</b>, Bayern's third member of the Germany starting line-up, enjoyed a relaxed evening against the outclassed part-timers from the dwarf nation.

<b>Löw enjoys goal fest</b>

Former Munich man Michael Ballack was also among the scorers in a match which raised questions regarding the value of such obviously mis-matched fixtures. "We never let up, we scored some fine goals, and we enjoyed ourselves. It's a good foundation for the future," Germany boss Joachim Löw nevertheless enthused after a third victory in his third match at the helm.

France and <b>Willy Sagnol</b> faced a much sterner task but emerged with flying colours after exacting revenge for their World Cup final defeat to Italy two months ago in a fully deserved 3-1 triumph in front a boisterous 80,000 crowd at the Stade de France. Sidney Govou (2, 55) and Thierry Henry (18) scored for the French, Alberto Gilardino replying on 28 minutes to make the score 2-1 at the time. Sagnol was a lively presence throughout and laid on the third goal as the French maintained their perfect start to qualifying.

<b>Van Buyten wins it for Belgium</b>

There was relief and jubilation in equal measure for <b>Daniel van Buyten</b> as the Bayern defender netted on 41 minutes to hand Belgium a precious 1-0 away victory in Armenia. Van Buyten and his men thus made partial amends for a disappointing opening draw against Kazakhstan, and now have four points from their first two matches.

A Peter Crouch strike directly after the restart saw <b>Owen Hargreaves</b> and England home 1-0 in a testing away trip to Macedonia. Hargreaves turned in another fine display for the full 90 minutes as England kept up their winning streak since the World Cup.

fine display from Bayern players in the international stage.