Philipp Lahm has warned that Germany will be "an even better team" at UEFA EURO 2008™, despite registering an impressive 4-0 victory over co-hosts Switzerland in Basel on Wednesday.
'Even better'
With goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski either side of two strikes from Mario Gómez, Germany bettered their recent 3-0 win against the other UEFA EURO 2008™ host nation Austria in Vienna, but FC Bayern München defender Lahm feels his side have not hit top gear yet. "We can still improve in the run-up to the EURO, then we will be an even better team," he said.
Questions answered
Coach Joachim Löw was also pleased with the friendly performance, and as he prepares to announce his finals squad on 16 May it now seems likely that Klose and Gómez will be his first-choice strike partnership. That would mean a supporting role in midfield for the industrious Podolski. "We have found answers to some open questions," explained Löw. "It was a EURO qualifier for every single player."
Westermann praise
It was not just the strikers who impressed the coach, however, with 24-year-old FC Schalke 04 defender Heiko Westermann demonstrating his versatility and work-rate. Just seven weeks after making his international debut in the 3-0 win in Vienna, he seems a certain choice for the finals, with Löw saying: "Westermann played very well – this was a very convincing and pleasing display."
Proper result
Having been flattered by the scoreline in Vienna, this was a far more complete performance from the Germans, and goalscorer Gómez feels his team fully merited the result. "Recent matches have not been convincing, but tonight we had an absolute will to win challenges, everyone worked for each other and it paid off," he said. "It's important to travel to the finals with such momentum behind you, but in the end all that matters is what happens in June."
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