We are not nervous, says Klose

Miroslav Klose insists there are no nerves in the Germany camp ahead of Saturday’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Russia.

Joachim Low’s men are a point ahead of the home side at the top of Group Four and a draw would be seen as a positive result for Germany given their final qualifier is a winnable home clash against Finland on Wednesday night.

There is huge pressure on Germany to avoid defeat but Klose is adamant any nervousness has not filtered through to the players.

He told www.dfb.de: “We are not nervous but focused on this crucial game.

“We don’t fear Russia because we know what to expect. The opponent is not unknown to us, we have already beaten them in qualification.

“Our 2-1 win in the first game should be our yardstick.”

There have been suggestions Low will adopt a defensive mindset in Moscow in a bid to nullify the hosts’ attacking players.

But Klose believes Germany should focus on their own strengths rather than concentrate on the opposition.

“Joachim Low and the coaching team will analyse the opponent and we will go into the game well prepared,” he said.

“It’s important however that we think first about our own strengths. We must consider it just another game.”

The match will be played on an artificial pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium which brings with it another set of problems for a visiting team.

Klose added: “We have played on similar surfaces in training. Each inaccurate ball means possession is lost and high balls have little effect.

“Therefore we must adapt. We have some technically gifted players in our squad so that should not be a problem.

“Russia have some good players, who play at a fast pace but so do we. We are inferior to them in nothing. It will depend on who performs better on the day – either side can win.”

Russia boss Guus Hiddink will order his team on the attack but accepts finishing as runners-up does, at least, give his side a second shot at qualification via the play-offs.

He told Russian newspaper Sport Express: “We want to win tomorrow very much but the victory is not a matter of life and death for us.

“The Russian team has a back door – in November through the play-offs.

“This match is important but it does not decide everything. Even if we win we still have another game against Azerbaijan.

“Let’s take the first step and then we will think about the second one – Azerbaijan.

“It would be good for football if both Russia and Germany get to the World Cup. Russia is a country progressing quickly in what we know as modern football.

“And participation in the World Cup is very important for a Russia now obsessed with football. The same is true for Germany. The tournament in South Africa is important for the teams both in economic and football aspects.”

Hiddink’s main selection worry is in attack with Roman Pavlyuchenko, Pavel Pogrebnyak and Alexander Kerzhakov all competing to lead the line.

Pavlyuchenko is likely to get the nod if he overcomes a hamstring strain.