FC Bayern Munchen News

Miroslav Klose is just one goal short of becoming the World Cup’s all-time top scorer, but another Germany star has been tipped to beat his tally

Germany legend Gerd Muller has backed compatriot Thomas Muller to become the World Cup’s greatest goalscorer on the back of his hat-trick heroics against Portugal.

‘Der Bomber’ is a former World Cup Golden Boot winner and believes his namesake is on course to become the most prolific scorer in finals history.

The current Germany forward scored five times in South Africa 2010 and already has three goals to his credit in Brazil.

Team-mate Miroslav Klose is only one strike behind Ronaldo’s all-time record of 15, the older Muller thinks it is only a matter of time before the Bayern Munich attacker surpasses both.

“I’m sure that Thomas Muller will surpass the World Cup scoring record because he still has another one or two World Cups ahead of him,” the legend told Sport Bild.

“He will defend his Golden Boot title.”

Klose recently overhauled Muller’s record of 68 goals for his country, but the latter did accumulate those goals in only 60 internationals, compared to the Lazio striker’s 132.

Meanwhile, Thomas Muller has struck 20 times for Germany in 50 caps, with seven of those coming in the final stages of the World Cup.

He is expected to have the opportunity to add to his tally when his side meet Ghana in their second group game in Fortaleza on Saturday, having previously seen off Portugal 4-0.

The Real Madrid playmaker had been struggling with a foot injury since the opening-day loss to Brazil, but both he and Mario Mandzukic will be in the starting line-up in Manaus

By Sam Lee at the Arena da Amazonia

Croatia coach Niko Kovac says Luka Modric is “100 per cent fit” to face Cameroon on Wednesday, and insists his side will go for all three points in the crucial Group A clash.

The loser of the match will be the first team eliminated from the World Cup as both were defeated in their first outings and are now four points adrift of Brazil and Mexico following their draw in Fortaleza on Tuesday.

Modric was in some doubt for the game in Manaus after picking up a foot injury in the opening-day defeat to Brazil, but Kovac says he will be ready to help his team try to take all three points.

“Luka is going to be 100% fit,” he said. “He did well Tuesday and Monday in training, no problems there. He will be 100% match fit.”

“We know what this match means to us and Cameroon. We’ve come here to play football and win three points because it means so much to us. Let’s not dwell on the maths, let’s focus on the game and the three points.

“Cameroon have to win to have any chance, and so do we. We could even play for a draw but we want three points, we will play our game.

“They are a strong team with high quality, but we want to impose our style of play. It is the same as I said after Brazil: if we play the same way I don’t see why we wouldn’t progress. We will fight and I am convinced that we are going to win the game.”

Mario Mandzukic will return to the Croatia team after suspension kept him out of his country’s first match, and Kovac is delighted to welcome him back into the fold.

“I am very glad that Mario is with us, his skills are well known,” he added. “Any coach would be satisfied to have such a player in their ranks, and I am. I know he will inject some energy into this match and lead us to victory, I hope.”

And Mandzukic himself is raring to get his tournament up and running: “I’m very glad to be back, I could hardly wait for the day to arrive. I worked hard in training, this is a very important match for me and for all of us. We are ready and I cannot wait for it to start.

“There’s not much pressure because we came here to win games. We always knew that we would have to beat Cameroon and Mexico and this has not changed. We want to win both and we are ready. We are positive, I am certain that we can take the first step by winning the game.”

The Bayern Munich man returns from suspension for his side’s all or nothing clash with Cameroon in Manaus on Wednesday

Croatia midfielder Danijel Pranjic expects his side to pose more of an attacking threat against Cameroon following star striker Mario Mandzukic’s return from suspension.

The Bayern Munich forward missed his country’s defeat to Brazil in their Group A opener last Thursday after being sent off in the second leg of their qualification play-off victory over Iceland.

However, he has now served his ban, meaning coach Niko Kovac will be able to unleash him in Croatia’s crucial clash with Cameroon, who were beaten 1-0 by Mexico in their first game.

And Pranjic, who also missed out against Brazil due to injury, believes his team will be better off with Mandzukic leading the line.

“Mandzukic definitely makes us stronger and you can’t replace him like-for-like,” the 32-year-old told Fifa.com. “He’s prepared to go out and die for the cause.

“Nikica Jelavic did really well against Brazil but Mario is Mario. We need him. We’re a totally different team without him.”

Kovac’s side will be desperate to get off the mark following their 3-1 defeat against, suffered in controversial fashion with complaints that a number of key refereeing decisions went against them, and Pranjic warned his team-mates that it’s now win or bust.

“It’s all-or-nothing for both teams,” he said.

“The losers will pack their bags and go home. We have to be ready for everything and play like it was our last match.”

The Bayern Munich man believes the 2010 Golden Boot winner has proved he has what it takes to make the difference for Joachim Low side in Brazil

Germany forward Mario Gotze believes team-mate Thomas Muller has what it takes to lead Joachim Low’s men to World Cup glory in Brazil.

Muller grabbed a hat-trick as Germany swept aside Portugal 4-0 in their Group G opener in Salvador on Monday, in what was the 24-year-old’s 50th cap for his country.

And it was a performance that Gotze says proved how influential his Bayern Munich team-mate can be for the 2010 semi-finalists who are among the favourites to claim what would be their fourth world title.

“Thomas Muller’s performance was outstanding,” Gotze told Fifa.com.

“Now he’s got three goals. That was very, very important, both for the team and for Thomas himself.

“He’s a top-quality player and we saw that today. He’s clinical in front of goal and can score from nothing. The ability to do that, especially at a World Cup, can be decisive.”

Muller, whose five goals and three assists at World Cup 2010 saw him edge Diego Forlan, David Villa and Wesley Sneijder to the Golden Boot award for the tournament’s top scorer, now has 20 goals for his country.

Germany continue their group-stage campaign on Saturday when they will face Ghana in Fortaleza.

The winger was clocked sprinting at a record-breaking pace during Friday’s stunning victory over Spain

Arjen Robben is officially the fastest footballer of all-time after reaching a top speed of 37 kilometres per hour as Netherlands thrashed Spain 5-1.

The Bayern Munich man left Sergio Ramos trailing behind as he sped through the middle of the park and into the penalty area before firing home the fifth goal of the game.

Prior to that record-breaking burst, Arsenal and England star Theo Walcott was previously the quickest player in the world with a speed of 35kph.

Robben even managed to break his own personal best having been clocked at 30.7kph for Bayern, but perhaps more impressive is the fact he has broken the record pace set by a footballer at the age of 30.

Further down the list of speedsters are Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia in third place (35.2kph), Gareth Bale in fourth (34.7), fifth-placed Aaron Lennon (33.8) and Cristiano Ronaldo (33.6), who is now sixth.

Behind the Real Madrid man in seventh and eighth spot are Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney, who have recorded speeds of 32.5 and 32.1 kph respectively.

Usain Bolt remains the fastest man in the world and of all-time. The Jamaica 100 and 200 metre runner ran 44.72kph in the final of the World Championships in Berlin in 2009.