Germany coach Joachim Loew will keep faith with Miroslav Klose for Wednesday's Euro 2008 Group D qualifier against Slovakia, despite the striker's glaring lack of form.
Klose's usual sharpness deserted him over the closing weeks of the Bundesliga season with Werder Bremen. Saturday's clash with San Marino looked a perfect chance to get back among the goals but he missed several easy chances in Germany's 6-0 win.
The performance of the 2006 World Cup's top scorer was in stark contrast to that of the 21-year-old Mario Gomez, who came off the bench to score twice, but still Loew is not about to drop his senior striker.
"He's obviously not in the same form as last year but all strikers go through phases like this," Loew said after the win in Nuremberg.
"His quality is beyond question and he has our absolute confidence. It's only a matter of time before he scores again and I hope it's on Wednesday. He'll be playing from the start."
Germany's win took them two points clear of the Czech Republic at the top of Group D, with a game in hand. If they beat Slovakia in Hamburg on Wednesday it will put them five clear with five to play.
On Saturday, Germany scored six times in a 22-minute spell either side of the interval to destroy San Marino who put up stiff resistance before succumbing to a Kevin Kuranyi header in the final minute of the first half.
Marcell Jansen made it 2-0 early in the second to open the floodgates. Torsten Frings converted from the spot, Gomez scored two in quick succession and Clemens Fritz rounded off the scoring in the 67th minute.
