Podolski expects Australia to defend and Germany to create holes in the Aussie defense

Podolski: Australia will defend

ERASMIA, South Africa — Playing for Germany seems to bring the best out of Lukas Podolski even though the Cologne forward has been a Bundesliga flop almost since he had been voted the best young player of the 2006 World Cup at home.

Podolski looks set to be in Germany’s starting lineup when the three-time champion opens its campaign against Australia on Sunday in Durban despite scoring only two Bundesliga goals this season.

Podolski thinks Australia will defend and that he could be the man to open breaches in the Socceroos’ defense.

“I played a good tournament the last time and the last few games for Germany were good for me. I hope to pick up where I left off,” Podolski said Thursday. “I’ve been training well, I feel good.”

Podolski became an instant star in Germany after making his national team debut in 2004. Born in Poland, Podolski has a direct, no-nonsense attitude and provides short, crisp replies to media questions. Fans like him for his outgoing, irreverent personality and called him “Prince Poldi.”

But his career stalled after the 2006 World Cup with his move to Bayern Munich. He scored 15 goals over three unhappy season and never settled down at the German powerhouse, only sporadically coming off the bench.

He continued playing for Germany, however, and has an impressive record with 38 goals in 73 games, at age 25.

Podolski left Bayern and returned to Cologne last season in a highly anticipated move. He was welcomed back as a hero, the savior of a struggling club.

Cologne mayor Fritz Schramma said Podolski belonged to Cologne just “like the Cathedral belongs to Cologne.”

Despite his star status in a mediocre club, Podolski never really ignited, although the club avoided relegation.

But Germany coach Joachim Loew has stuck with Podolski, just as he has with Miroslav Klose, the second Polish-born striker who was Podolski’s partner in 2006.

Since then, however, Loew has preferred to use one striker, moving Podolski to the left wing, where he can take advantage of his speed. Klose appears to still be Loew’s pick for striker, although he only had three goals in the Bundesliga for Bayern the past season.

Podolski believes nothing much has changed in the German team since 2006, despite the absence of several injured players, including captain Michael Ballack.

“It’s more or less the same feeling,” Podolski said. “There is some pressure here but we want to go into Sunday’s match with confidence and we hope to win. We want to have a good start but it will be tough.

“It’s going to be difficult in the front because they will play tight defense. We will have to find and make holes in their defense.”

Podolski already has scored against Australia, in Germany’s 4-3 win at the 2005 Confederations Cup.