FRANKFURT, June 4 – New captain Philipp Lahm hit the equaliser and his deputy Bastian Schweinsteiger scored two penalties as Germany came from behind to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1 win here on Thursday in a World Cup friendly.This was Germany’s final warm-up game before flying to South Africa and the Joachim Loew-coached Germans responded to Edin Dzeko’s early goal with an impressive performance as both Lahm and his vice-captain Schweinsteiger netted.
Germany have endured a difficult few weeks which have seen them lose captain Michael Ballack, midfielder Christian Traesch and defender Heiko Westermann all through injuries.
With Ballack out of the World Cup, Lahm will wear the captain’s armband in South Africa when Germany open their campaign against Australia in Group D on June 13.
Coach Joachim Loew again opted to start Miroslav Klose as the lone striker with Lukas Podokski and Mesut Oezil providing attacking options from midfield.
Both Podolski and Oezil looked threatening and both crashed their shots against the Bosnian crossbar at various times, but veteran Klose was again unimpressive and is in danger of losing his place in the starting line-up.
With Germany flying to South Africa on Sunday, Lahm led the side in Frankfurt, but it was not the type of start he would have wanted.
Lahm was at fault when Bosnia took the lead after he tried to clear the ball from a Dzeko attack, but could only watch in horror as the ball hit the Wolfsburg striker on the chest and looped over Manuel Neuer in the German goal.
Having fallen behind to the 15th minute goal, Germany laid siege to the visitors goal with Oezil going close with a couple of clear chances while Podolski rattled the cross bar with a fierce shot.
But the hosts finally had their patience rewarded when Lahm went on a weaving run at the Bosnian goal and buried his shot past goalkeeper Kenan Hasagic on 51 minutes.
Both Cacau and Oezil went close with efforts in the final 30 minutes as Germany piled the pressure on the guests’ goal.
With 20 minutes left, Werder Bremen Marko Marin came off the bench against the country of his birthplace and was straight into the attack, winning a penalty just two minutes after his introduction.
He was brought down by Sanel Jahic and Schweinsteiger netted the penalty on 72 minutes.
Bosnian captain Emir Spahic was lucky to escape a red card as he clattered Marin in the last six minutes and then struck the diminutive winger on the side of the head.
