'Playing for Germany was a dream'

"Back then when I was a kid it was a dream to have such a record, of scoring at every second Germany game I play. Even just playing in the national team was a dream back then," he said with a dry smile.

The soft-spoken Klose is lying in ninth place in the list of Germany's most-capped players, behind such illustrious players as Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Mueller and Juergen Klinsmann.

He has now won one more cap than captain Michael Ballack, who missed the World Cup through injury.

On Germany's all-time scorers list he is in third place, with Mueller on top with 68 goals.

Image: Miroslav Klose

Klose confident of a good show against Argentina

He will most take his international appearances to 100 when Germany face Argentina for a spot in the semi-finals.

"There is still a lot that is possible here and it would be a mistake to start asking ourselves how far we can go," he said.

"But if we play the game like we played it today then we will go far. We can apply it against any opponent," he added.

After such a turnaround who would dare bet against him.

Image: Miroslav Klose