Thais tremble before Kuranyi

Thailand 1-5 Germany
Kevin Kuranyi was the star as Germany finished their tour of Asia with a fine win against Thailand.

Outstanding performance
Kuranyi scored two goals in quick succession on 34 and 38 minutes in Bangkok to take his record under national coach Jürgen Klinsmann to seven goals in five games. After Sarayoot Chaikamdee pulled a goal back for Thailand, the VfB Stuttgart striker set up goals for Lukas Podolski and Gerald Asamoah to give Germany a handsome victory.

Veterans rested
Klinsmann once again reshuffled his side after the opening win of the tour in Japan and the defeat against the Korean Repubic. Veteran goalkeeper Oliver Kahn was rested along with other experienced players like Michael Ballack, Bernd Schneider and Christian Wörns. With Ballack only on the bench Klinsmann handed the captaincy to Hertha BSC Berlin defender Arne Friedrich.

Bright start
The visitors started the match brightly and could have taken the lead inside the opening minute. Asamoah beat the offside trap but was denied by goalkeeper Kosin Hathairattanakool. The FC Schalke 04 striker was denied by the goalkeeper again six minutes later and on ten minutes Bastian Schweinsteiger's free-kick from the edge of the area clipped the bar.

Schweinsteiger denied
After that Germany could no longer maintain the early pace. With the hosts gaining confidence Klinsmann's side had to wait until 26 minutes before creating their next chance. Philipp Lahm crossed from the left, but Schweinsteiger's diving header was claimed by Hathairattanakool.

Kuranyi double
Eight minutes later Germany took the lead. Kuranyi shrugged off a defender on the edge of the area, before slotting the ball past the Thailand goalkeeper. Four minutes later the Stuttgart striker doubled the visitors' advantage, heading in Asamoah's cross from close range.

Chaikamdee consolation
Germany looked increasingly tired after the break and the home side took advantage, with Sarif Sainui breaking away down the right before feeding the ball to Chaikamdee, who was left with an easy tap-in on 57 minutes.

Kuranyi assists
Germany, however, sealed their win thanks to more good work from Kuranyi. With 17 minutes remaining the striker dispossessed a Thai defender and released Podolski, who scored his first international goal. Ten minutes later Kuranyi then squared the ball for Asamoah to score before Podolski got his second goal of the game a minute from time to seal a comfortable win.