• FT

    Ireland

    1

    Cameroon

    1

    Match
  • FT

    Uruguay

    1

    Denmark

    2

    Match
  • FT

    Germany

    8

    Saudi Arabia

    0

    Match

WORLD CUP

Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan

* Local time based on your geographic location.

Germany

  • Miroslav Klose 20' •
  • Miroslav Klose 25' •
  • Michael Ballack 40' •
  • Carsten Jancker 45' •
  • Miroslav Klose 69' •
  • Thomas Linke 73' •
  • Oliver Bierhoff 84' •
  • Bernd Schneider 90' •

8 - 0

FT

  • 94'

    Germany can't get carried away with this result. They were playing local park-standard players, Ireland and Cameroon will prove stiffer opposition

  • 94'

    Saudi Arabia. Absolutely clueless. Ireland and Cameroon are going to be itching to get a crack at this bunch of no-hopers

  • 94'

    And there goes the final whistle. Germany thump Saudi Arabia 8-0

  • 93'

    It's 8-0. A superb set-piece from Schneider giving Al Daeyea no chance. At least he wasn't at fault for that goal!

  • 93'

    GOAL!!!

  • 92'

    Schneider steps up are curls a great effort towards the top left-hand corner of Al Daeyea's net....

  • 91'

    Noor is booked as Bierhoff is brought down on the edge of the D. A great chance for number eight

  • 90'

    Three minutes to be added

  • 89'

    Bierhoff lofts the ball to Ballack ten yards out. He tries get a shot in, but Zubromawi stands strong and in the end Ballack commits the foul

  • 88'

    Whenever Saudi Arabia come forward they make Stockport County's strikeforce look world class. This Saudi Arabia team is completely inept

  • 87'

    Bierhoff brings down Al Shahrani in the centre circle. Free-kick

  • 86'

    Al-Khathran finds himself in space on the left. He comes forward to the edge of the box and shoots way over the bar. The cross was the sensible option there

  • 85'

    Bierhof makes it 7-0 with a goal more accustomed to the junior school playground. Again the goalkeeper should have done better...

  • 85'

    GOAL!!!!!

  • 84'

    Ballack knocks a short ball forward for Bierhoff 25-yards out. The striker stretches and connects with a toe-poke....

  • 83'

    Yellow card for Hamann as Al Jaber is brought down

  • 82'

    Neuville looks to get the better of Sulimani on the right, but the Saudi Arabian defender does well to win the ball

  • 81'

    Ballack tries to slip it between the legs of Al Daeyea, but the keeper maages to block the shot with his foot and the ball runs safe

  • 80'

    Ballack suddenly finds himself in the clear with only Al Daeyea to beat, it has to be seven....

  • 79'

    The final change for Saudi Arabia now, Al Hassan Al Yami is replaced by Abdullah Jumaan Al Dosari

  • 78'

    Change for Germany as Miroslav Klose goes off to great applause, Oliver Neuville is introduced

  • 77'

    A rare forward move from Saudi Arabia. Al Hassan Al Yami has space and tries a shot, but it's woeful - row Z

  • 76'

    ...not quite. Hat-trick hero Klose tried to find the bottom left-hand corner of Al Daeyea's net, but the keeper got down well to save

  • 75'

    A fine ball over the top from Frings finds Klose. He turns well and get the ball on his right on the penalty spot - is it seven...

  • 74'

    Now Ziege tries a long-range effort, but the ball flies well wide

  • 73'

    It's 6-0 now. Linke grabs his first ever goal for Germany. His flick header flew past Al Daeyea who had come to collect the ball but was left flapping. And there's still the best part of 20 minutes left!

  • 72'

    GOAL!!!!!

  • 72'

    Corner to Germany. Ziege plays a pacy ball into the near post and there's Linke.....

  • 71'

    Germany continue to press forward. Klose gets through but overruns the ball, and has to stretch to cut the ball back to Bierhoff. Takar manages to cut out the opportunity

  • 70'

    It's a hat-trick for Klose and 5-0 to Germany. The Polish-born forward headed the ball into the ground, and Al Daeyea was nowhere as it bounced into the roof of the net

  • 69'

    GOAL!!!!!

  • 69'

    Schneider is free now on the right. He gets to the by-line to cross and finds Klose unmarked eight yards out...

  • 69'

    Ziege plays a superb ball over the top to fine Ballack in the area, but the impressive Ballack can't hit the target

  • 68'

    Ziege takes the corner, but Al Daeyea gets a hand to the ball and claws it to safety

  • 68'

    Ziege produces another cross from the left. Takar beats his own keeper to the ball to conceed the corner, but hurts his back in the process and goes off for treatment

  • 67'

    A second change for Germany Oliver Bierhoff coming on for goalscorer Carsten Jancker

  • 66'

    Some attacking play from the Saudis now. Al Jaber feeds the ball into the box but it's header clear

  • 65'

    Ballack feeds Ziege. The Spurs man causing problems again up against Takar, but his cross, for once, is poor

  • 64'

    Ballack rises against Takar, but is unable to cause Al Daeyea any problems with the header

  • 63'

    Takar fells Jancker in the middle of the park. Free-kick.

  • 62'

    Jeremies is given space 25-yards out. He tries a thunderbolt effort, but fails to hit the target

  • 61'

    Schneider does well on the right and finds Ballack on the edge of the box, but his shot's blocked

  • 60'

    The ball's lofted in, but Al Daeyea beats Jancker to the ball. The goalkeeper very nearly spills it, but recovers in time

  • 59'

    Germany win a corner on the right. The chance for a fifth

  • 58'

    Germany are able to play at will. What Rudi Voeller, or Ireland and Cameroon for that matter, can gleam from this game is negligible

  • 57'

    It's amazing how dead atmosphere is in the stadium. Perhaps it may be somewhat different when England face Argentina on Thursday......

  • 56'

    Germany buildin slowly on the left. Ballack involved in almost everything at the moment

  • 55'

    Now Ballack has the ball in the box - Germany showing some forward ambition again - but he is adjudged to have pulled back Takar. Free-kick to Saudi Arabia

  • 54'

    Frings and Ballack link up on the right, Frings bringing the ball into the box and just as he's about to shoot is clipped by Zubromawi. No penalty! Perhaps the referee is showing some sympathy

  • 53'

    Klose bursts forward against Takar, showing good pace. But the Saudi defender matches him stride for stride and can guide the ball out for a goal-kick.

  • 52'

    Germany immediately win another corner kick. Schneider again takes, but Al Daeyea claims. He appears to drop the ball - but the referee quite right spots the foul

  • 51'

    A low ball is played in to the penalty spot by Schneider, but Linke sees his first time effort go wide

  • 50'

    Straight away the ball comes back into the box and Zubromawi is forced to conceed the corner

  • 49'

    Ballack tries to chip the ball over the top for Klose, but it's a poor ball and Takar can clear

  • 48'

    Free-kick to Germany. Unsurprisingly it's Ziege with the delivery, but Al Daeyea claims with ease

  • 47'

    Two changes for Saudi Arabia. Khumais Al Owairan and Nawaf Al Temyat are replaced by Ibrahim Al Shahrani and Abdel Aziz al-Khathran

  • 46'

    Some changes at half-time. For Germany, Jens Jeremies comes on for Carsten Ramelow

  • 45'

    Saudi Arabia have to be one of the worst sides ever to play in the World Cup finals - never mind just this tournament. Germany can rack up a rugby score in the second half.....

  • 45'

    And that's half-time. 4-0, and quite simply it could have been double that scoreline

  • 45'

    It's a rout. 4-0 and it's not yet even half time. Jancker had the simple task of side-footing the ball through the legs of the hapless Al Daeyea

  • 45'

    GOAL!!!!!

  • 45'

    Frings strolls forward on the right, lofting a neat ball up to Klose. He looks to flick the ball back and the ball comes to Jancker...

  • 45'

    Two minutes of injury time to be added in this half

  • 44'

    The game has slowed down as we get to the break. Will Germany be hungry for more in the second period or happy with the three?

  • 43'

    Al Dosari comes forward on the right, but Ziege hacks him to the ground. Fellow card. Free-kick.... wasted

  • 42'

    Suddenly Saudi Arabia come to life, pressing forward as we reach half time

  • 41'

    It's just a stroll in the park for Germany. Ballacks header again gave Al Daeyea no chance, adding to Klose's brace

  • 41'

    GOAL!!!!!

  • 40'

    Again it's Ziege on the ball on the left wing. It's a superb ball onto the penalt spot and the head of Ballack...

  • 39'

    Frings crosses from the right to find Ziege. He tries the first time volley and gets it all wrong. Goal kick

  • 38'

    Al Temyat does well just outside the Germany box, but just as it seems he may create an opening Ziege wins the ball with a strong challenge

  • 37'

    Germany sitting back a little bit now, allowing Saudi Arabia some possession

  • 36'

    Schneider does well again on the right, causing Sulimani no end of problems. He delivers the ball in, but Al Dosari can head clear

  • 35'

    There's not much of an atmosphere in the Saporro Dome for this game - being played indoors of course

  • 34'

    Schneider plays the ball into the near post, Jancker gets there before Al Daeyea but his flick header goes over

  • 33'

    Klose does well on the right, twisting and turning before winning a corner off Takar

  • 32'

    Ziege again delivers into the heart of the box, but this time Al Daeyea shows confidence to come out and claim the ball

  • 31'

    Germany are spray the ball around the park, playing keep-ball. They know the points are in the bag

  • 30'

    The corner comes in, and ball in eventually fed in to Al Jaber, but he fails to connect with the ball and Kahn can collect

  • 29'

    Al Jaber feeds a ball over the top to Al Dosari in the box. The bounce of the ball is cruel, enabling Ziege to knock the ball behind

  • 28'

    Jancker shows some good skill outside the box to slip the ball to Ballack, but he drags his shot wide of the mark

  • 27'

    Saudi Arabia have to do something different. They've hardly seen the ball. They've been so poor it's hard to gauge what this tells us about Germany's chances in the finals

  • 26'

    A fine, powerful header from Klose to send Germany two-up. This could be a rout

  • 25'

    GOAL!!!!!

  • 24'

    Ballack comes forward on the left, delivering a fine lofted cross to the back stick and Klose...

  • 24'

    Ziege's causing all sorts of problems on the left, another good, high ball comes in which Jancker meets - but the flags up for offside

  • 23'

    Hamann tries his luck from 25-yards, but his effort is straight into the arms of Al Daeyea

  • 22'

    You have to fancy the Germans to go on and complete a comfortable opening victory now. Saudi Arabia have been abysmal

  • 21'

    Germany lead 1-0, Miroslav Klose meeting the ball perfectly to give Al Daeyea no chance. A lead that was thoroughly deserved

  • 21'

    GOAL!!!!!

  • 21'

    ...Jancker's ambitious overhead kick fails, but the ball finds Klose on the far post...

  • 21'

    Ballack has the ball on the left now, he shifts te ball onto his right foot and delivers a good cross into the box...

  • 20'

    Ziege floats in the corner, but it's easily cleared

  • 19'

    A good ball over the top finds Schneider in the box, buta fine challenge by Al Shahrani conceeds the corner

  • 19'

    The game has been far from a classic for the 42,000-strong crowd, and it has certainly been one-sided

  • 18'

    ...but the Bayern Munich-bound Bayer Leverkusen man sees his shot go wide as well. It would seem to be only a matter of time before Germany score

  • 17'

    Ziege goes on a bursting run to the edge of the Saudi's box, he runs into a defender but the ball breaks for Michael Ballack...

  • 16'

    Straight away Klose finds himself in the clear with only Al Daeyea to beat. But he somewhat scuffs his shot and the keeper is able to go down low to his right to save

  • 15'

    ...but Klose sees his header loft over the bar. The Germans are getting closer

  • 14'

    A good interchange of play between Schenider and Frings on the right sees the latter produce a good cross into the centre of the box. Klose wins the header..

  • 13'

    The battle between Jancker and Zubromawi is key at the moment - and Jancker would seem to be on top

  • 12'

    Germany win a free-kick now ten yards outside the box after Al Dosari fouls Ballack, but Ziege's set piece is easily headed clear

  • 11'

    But no! The referee says Jancker fouled Zubromawi when winning the ball. The German striker looks shocked, and the goal won't count

  • 10'

    The ball rolls towards the net and Jancker gets there before Sulimani. Goal!

  • 9'

    But Saudi Arabia are in trouble again as a backpass from Zubromawi is short. Jancker chase down Zubromawi and wins the ball before Al Daeyea can get there...

  • 8'

    ..but the ball flies inches wide of the keeper's left hand post

  • 8'

    Ziege collects the ball mid-way inside the Saudi's half. The Spurs man lofts a good ball to Jancker on the far post and he rises above Zubromawi....

  • 7'

    Al Jaber and Noor show some good skill on the ball outside the German box with no real product, and Germany can come clear

  • 6'

    Ziege looks to run onto the ball from Hamann - but he trips over his own feet and Takar lets theball run out for a goalkick

  • 5'

    Al Jaber re-enters the play, but straight away it's Germany on the attack with Jancker. He plays the ball to Ziege on the wing - but the cross is poor

  • 4'

    Al Jaber is now hacked down by Linke inside the German half. He has to go off for treatment

  • 3'

    ...but the ball spins agonisingly wide of the post, with Schnieder unable to get in on the slide

  • 2'

    Jancker shows great strength inside the box, holding off Zubromawi, he fires a shot across the face of goal...

  • 2'

    Germany play keep ball in the early moments of the game, looking to stamp their authority on a game they are expected to win with ease

  • 1'

    It's Saudi Arabia who get the game underway in the Sapporo Dome

  •  

    Saudi Arabia came through as winners of their Asian qualifying group - eager to impress

  •  

    Germany come into this game desperate to get off to a good start. Many believe they are no longer a true force - they'll be aiming to prove their doubters wrong

COMPLETE TEAM CLOSE X
Goal Shot Video
  •  

  • Shots (on goal)

  • tackles

  • Fouls

  • possession

  • Germany

  • 24(14)

  • -

  • 19

  • 0%

    0%

  • Saudi Arabia

  • 2(0)

  • -

  • 10

Germany

Line-up
POS No Name

G

 1 Oliver Kahn

D

 2 Thomas Linke

D

 6 Christian Ziege

D

 21 Christoph Metzelder

M

 5 Carsten Ramelow
M		 16 Jens Jeremies

M

 8 Dietmar Hamann

M

 13 Michael Ballack

M

 19 Bernd Schneider

M

 22 Torsten Frings

F

 9 Carsten Jancker
F		 20 Oliver Bierhoff

F

 11 Miroslav Klose
F		 7 Oliver Neuville
 
Substitutes
POS No Name
M 16 Jens Jeremies
F 7 Oliver Neuville
F 20 Oliver Bierhoff

Saudi Arabia

Line-up
POS No Name

G

 1 Mohammed Al Daeyea

D

 3 Raza Takar

D

 4 Abdullah Zubromawi

D

 12 Ahmed Dukhi Al Dosari

D

 13 Hussein Sulimani

M

 8 Mohammed Noor

M

 16 Khumais Al Owairan
M		 7 Ibrahim Al Shahrani

M

 17 Abdullah Al Shahrani

M

 18 Nawaf Al Temyat
M		 14 Abdel Aziz al-Khathran

F

 9 Sami Al Jaber

F

 20 Al Hassan Al Yami
F		 15 Abdullah Jumaan Al Dosari
 
Substitutes
POS No Name
M 7 Ibrahim Al Shahrani
M 14 Abdel Aziz al-Khathran
F 15 Abdullah Jumaan Al Dosari

Match Stats

  • Germany
  • Saudi Arabia
24(14) Shots (on goal) 2(0)
19 Fouls 10
10 Corner kicks 1
3 Offsides 2
0% Time of Possession 0%
2 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
0 Saves 6