by FCBayernNews » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:00 pm
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.