Germany striker Miroslav Klose says he is desperate to win the Golden Boot title after missing out on Sunday’s World Cup final in Berlin.
Klose leads the scoring charts with five goals and has the chance to put more distance between him and his rivals when hosts Germany take on Portugal in Saturday’s third-place play-off in Stuttgart.
”Finishing top-scorer at the World Cup is a great honour and it would be fantastic if one title stayed in Germany after these finals,” Klose said at Thursday’s press conference.
Werder Bremen striker Klose is two goals ahead of his main rival, French striker Thierry Henry, who will face Italy in Sunday’s final.
German Player of the Year Klose admits he is still struggling with a calf injury picked up in the 2-0 semifinal defeat to Italy on Tuesday and is not certain of playing.
”I still have pain in my calf. I want to play but if it is not 100% I won’t risk it,” Klose declared.
”We want to beat Portugal as third is better than fourth. We wanted to be in the final but unfortunately it did not work out that way.”
The 28-year-old Klose, top-scorer in the German league last season, has put himself in the shop window with his performances at the finals, but refused to discuss speculation he could be set for a big-money summer move.
”I am glad to have a few weeks off on holiday before the season restarts. I will see how it goes with Werder Bremen,” Klose said.
”I have a contract at Bremen until 2008. I want to go abroad at some stage but I do not want to talk about it now.”
If Klose, born in the Polish city of Opole, can score against Portugal on Saturday it will take his World Cup goals tally to 11 — level with Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann. — AFP