Klose deserves German goal record, says Mueller

Gerd Mueller beleives Germany striker Miroslav Klose deserves to break his 39-year-old goalscoring record which could fall in Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Austria. Klose, 35, is just one short of Mueller’s all-time record for Germany of 68 goals, the last of which came in the 1974 World Cup final.

Having scored his last two goals for Germany in the 4-4 draw with Sweden in Berlin in October 2012, Klose now has 128 international appearances and 67 goals and Mueller said he would be pleased to see the Poland-born forward claim his record. ‘For a long time, it has just been a question of time until he breaks my record. I am really pleased for him,’ the 67-year-old Mueller said.

‘Miro is an awesome striker and a great bloke, who I got to know during his time with Bayern Munich. He deserves the record.’ Germany host Austria in a World Cup qualifier on Friday at Munich’s Allianz Arena and Mueller said he has no problem if the record falls in his home city. ‘He shouldn’t be compared to anyone. He is unique.’

Record-setter Buffon will always heed to Azzurri call

ROME: Italy goalkeeping great Gianluigi Buffon has no intention of hanging up his gloves, as long as he is still desired by the Azzurri, he said on Wednesday.

Buffon, 35, is two games away from equalling Fabio Cannavaro’s record of 136 appearances for Italy - a landmark the Juventus ‘keeper can match in Turin when Italy host the Czech Republic next Tuesday. ‘For me, playing for and representing my country is something you don’t take for granted,’ Buffon said. ‘Not a lot of players are lucky enough to get the opportunity, that’s why I could never say I’ve had enough, it would be like defecting,’ the Juventus keeper added.