Dublin - his humor Lukas Podolski has still not lost: Flachsend the Bayern striker sat on the bench, singing, joking with his buddy and sitting next to David Odonkor. He had a very bitter blow to digest: Now he is not even first with Joachim Loew choice. But, after all, came as Poldi was finally alert.
Nevertheless, the decision to him to think about: In Ireland, the former national coach of the Cologne-sat on the bench, but instead was allowed to take the last ailing champions VfB Stuttgart Mario Gomez from the place of the injured Miroslav Klose. The reason: "Gomez is in the rhythm. Fight strong against the Irishman, he seemed a better choice, "said assistant coach Hansi Flick before the game.
ARD expert Guenter Netzer there was already much harder, with Podolski in the court. "This is the consequence of his shortcomings. He sits on the bench because he is usually too little moved. Because he's too little into the game brings. That is too little the case, even in the club. That is why Podolski is not playing. "
It Loew had said before the match: "When he is not the case in Bavaria, he takes hold of us. We look forward to a rested Lukas Podolski. Here he can get the necessary self-confidence. "National team manager Oliver Bierhoff:" If he is with us, we just wanted to spray him. "But this is obviously not.
Still: After 64 minutes Poldi was ran for the hapless Gomez. And then finally, what was in the German offensives. Twice he took off from 20 meters, just under the ball went wide. In the end Podolski remained scoreless. But even after the final whistle, he showed his smile. And as long as Poldi is not lost, is still hope.
