Germany striker Miroslav Klose ready to curb famed celebration

Published on 16/10/2012 00:00

The somersault has been Germany striker Miroslav Klose’s trademark goal celebration for over a decade, but the 34-year-old is cutting out the mid-air flip in a bid to stay fit for the 2014 World Cup.

Klose, enjoying a fine season at Italy’s Lazio, hopes to add to his 65 international goals against Sweden in Germany’s World Cup qualifier tonight.

However, he said: “The somersault, I think I can still do it, but I honestly do not want to risk it because I want to still be around in 2014.”

The Polish-born forward needs only three more goals to equal the all-time German record of 68 set by Gerd Mueller. But Klose said: “I would never compare myself to Gerd Mueller.

“I have told him that myself a few times. It is a joke to be compared to him.”