BERLIN (Reuters) – Whether it was Gerd Mueller, Rudi Voeller or Miroslav Klose, Germany have never had a shortage of gifted strikers but when they take on Kazakhstan in their World Cup qualifier on Friday there could be none in their lineup.

Germany, top of 2014 World Cup qualifying Group C on 10 points from four games, will be looking to get all three points in Astana and will most likely try to do it without a designated forward.

BERLIN, March 21 (Reuters) – Whether it was Gerd Mueller, Rudi Voeller or Miroslav Klose, Germany have never had a shortage of gifted strikers but when they take on Kazakhstan in their World Cup qualifier on Friday there could be none in their lineup.

Germany, top of 2014 World Cup qualifying Group C on 10 points from four games, will be looking to get all three points in Astana and will most likely try to do it without a designated forward.

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s players will be going to bed at dawn and training just before midnight as they prepare for their soccer World Cup qualifying game in Kazakhstan on Friday, the team said on Wednesday.

With a five-hour time difference between Germany and Kazakhstan, the team have been advised not to change their watches to local time once they arrive but instead stick with German time so as not to interrupt their rhythm on such a short trip.

BERLIN, March 20 (Reuters) – Germany’s players will be going to bed at dawn and training just before midnight as they prepare for their soccer World Cup qualifying game in Kazakhstan on Friday, the team said on Wednesday.

With a five-hour time difference between Germany and Kazakhstan, the team have been advised not to change their watches to local time once they arrive but instead stick with German time so as not to interrupt their rhythm on such a short trip.

BERLIN, March 19 (Reuters) – Germany will be training on artificial grass in the run-up to Friday’s World Cup qualifier in Kazakhstan as they look to adapt to the surface used for the match.

The Germans have had some recent experience on artificial grass, beating Kazakhstan in the Euro 2012 qualifiers and Russia in the World Cup 2010 qualifiers but for both matches their preparation was less than perfect.

BERLIN (Reuters) – A second-string Bayern Munich team snatched a 2-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday thanks to a late own goal to stay 20 points clear at the top and on track for their first Bundesliga crown since 2010.

Mario Gomez fired the Bavarians into the lead with a superb solo effort in 37th minute but Simon Rolfes grabbed the equaliser in the 75th.

BERLIN, March 16 (Reuters) – Two goals from Bundesliga top scorer Robert Lewandowski and playmaker Nuri Sahin led Borussia Dortmund to a 5-1 rout of Freiburg on Saturday that helped consolidate second place in the table.

The champions netted three times in four minutes at the end of the first half, with Lewandowski setting a club record by scoring in his eighth straight league game.

BERLIN, March 16 (Reuters) – Borussia Dortmund crushed Freiburg 5-1 on Saturday, thanks to two goals apiece from top scorer Robert Lewandowski and Nuri Sahin, to consolidate second place in the Bundesliga.

The champions netted three times in four minutes at the end of the first half while Lewandowski set a club record by scoring in his eighth straight league game.

BERLIN, March 15 (Reuters) – Germany could bid for the Euro 2020 semi-finals and final if Turkey’s Istanbul lands the 2020 Olympics, the country’s football association said on Friday.

European soccer’s governing body UEFA has said the 2020 tournament will be staged in 13 cities across the continent instead of just one country for financial reasons and to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

BERLIN, March 14 (Reuters) – Germany coach Joachim Loew has again snubbed Bayer Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling for the two 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan later this month, saying he planned for a future that may not include natural forwards.

Loew, who on Thursday called up only one out-and-out forward in Mario Gomez for the games on March 22 and 26, said Kiessling may be playing a fine season but he did not necessarily fit his overall philosophy.