German striker Klose is no star... but what a superb record
Miroslav Klose, I salute you. To me the German striker is a functional footballer rather than a truly fantastic one, but his record at World Cups is remarkable and deserves the highest praise. On Saturday he scored his 15th goal at the finals, which equalled the all-time record of Brazilian great Ronaldo.
The goal he scored in the 2-2 draw with Ghana took him past Germany legend Gerd Muller, who believe me was one of the finest finishers ever.
He will have been delighted with that but the most impressive record out of them all that Klose achieved at the weekend was scoring for the FOURTH consecutive World Cup finals.
Only another German great Uwe Seeler and the iconic Pele had done that before, so he is in some company.
I'm not sure in a few years' time how many people will say Klose when that question comes up in a pub quiz, but nobody can take the record away from him now.
I remember in 1982 when I scored in the World Cup for Northern Ireland, it felt like the best thing in the world and last week you could see how much it meant to Wayne Rooney when he finally broke his duck in the tournament for England against Uruguay.
The World Cup is on a different level to anything else in football and when you score in one, emotions do take over.
Klose has had that wonderful feeling 15 times and in four World Cups! That really is incredible.
When I say he is a functional footballer, it is not meant as an insult. That description is simply because he does what it says on the tin.
He is not a highly skilled player. He isn't the most athletic player either and I can't remember watching him ping great passes around the pitch during his career but he fulfils a hugely important function by doing his job and doing it extremely well - taking chances and scoring goals.
The goal he scored for Germany against Ghana was typical Klose - right place, right time and the ball was in the net to earn his country a vital point.
Klose's attitude is obviously very good and he uses his experience to his advantage by taking up positions that could lead to goals.
You also have to pay tribute to the German manager Joachim Low, firstly for picking Klose in the squad because he is 36 now and secondly for bringing him on at exactly the right time on Saturday to make a difference.
That is a manager who clearly knows his players and what he can get out of them.
Overall, Germany were not as fluent as they had been when they hammered Portugal 4-0 in the first game but Germany being Germany were able to grind out a result.
When Ghana led 2-1 they had real possibilities to score a third goal.
After failing to take them, Germany were always going to pounce.
They have the self-belief to do so.
That is a great quality to have in big matches and that is why I believe they will make it through to the knockout stages and prove dangerous opponents for anyone later in the tournament.
Roy paid price for living up to his cautious tag
Roy Hodgson is staying as England manager. That, though, should not stop us analysing his performance at this World Cup.
He has created a good atmosphere in the camp and it has been a lot more harmonious than under Fabio Capello four years ago, but he is judged on the pitch and with results and in my book he didn't reach the mark.
I felt Roy took the safe route with his tactics. Had he been a bit braver and, say, selected Ross Barkley from the start against Uruguay, things may have been different. I imagine he will include a lot of youngsters against Costa Rica tomorrow but the matches that mattered have already been played and England lost both of them.
Heat is starting to take a real toll on Europeans
Before the World Cup in Brazil began, I wrote in this column that the conditions would play a huge role in deciding who would win it.
That's why I predicted a European team would not go all the way.
When Holland, Germany and Italy produced big results in their opening games, you may have thought I had got it all wrong. But look at their performances in the second games they played - the tempo had decreased and they were not as energetic around the pitch.
The longer this tournament goes on, the more the heat and humidity can play a part. France have looked sharp in both of their opening games but I'll reserve judgement on them until they play a top side.
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