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Half Time: Group A - Germany 0 - 0 Poland - Chances On Both Side's, But Germany Stronger

Submitted by Scott Harkness on Wed, 14/06/2006 - 20:48.

The World Cup hosts, Germany went into half-time 0-0 against Poland with both sides having created chances.

Germany had a shot from Miroslav Klose in the 9th minute that was saved by Celtic keeper Artur Boruc.

Poland’s Ireneusz Jelen was seemingly brought-down by Christoph Metzelder just outside the penalty area in the 17th minute, but the referee waved play-on.

From the resulting break, Klose should have scored when he was clear on goal, but his header went just wide of the post.

Jelen was proving to be Poland’s most dangerous player, forcing two corners that were easily saved by the German keeper Jens Lehmann.

Lehmann was called into action again midway through the first period but parried away the shot from the Poles.

Germany captain Michael Ballack was brought down in a dangerous area shortly afterwards, but the resulting free-kick from Bastian Shweinsteiger proved to be no problem for Boruc.

Germany started to pressure, but always had the threat of Poland attacking on the break, and were lacking the final pass.

Ballack had a shot on goal force a corner at the half-hour mark, but Schweinsteiger, who didn’t seem to be able to find his rhythm, and who’s placement of the ball from dead-ball situations was never finding it’s target, wasted it.

Germany continued with the pressure and came close with Lukas Podolski forcing Boruc into a decent save, and with Maciej Zurawski, having a shot at the other end, both sides looked capable of scoring.

Podolski started to find his form, with a decent chance in the last minutes of the first-half, when he broke free of the Poland back-four, but got the ball tangled between his feet, and scuffed the shot.

Poland weren’t out of the match and were pushing the German’s just as hard, forcing a couple of corners, but never really testing the Arsenal keeper Lehmann.

Germany's Podolski missed the best chance of the half, in injury-time, but his shot dribbled in front of the goal and away to safety.

Even though Germany had the better of the chances, both sides went into half-time 0-0.