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As they travel to Bucharest to face Romania in a UEFA EURO 2004™ warm-up game, Germany are seeking more than a morale-boosting victory - they are also looking for the missing piece to complete their attacking lineup.

Knee injury
Rudi Völler has been delighted with the form of VfB Stuttgart striker Kevin Kuranyi, but since 1. FC Kaiserslautern striker Miroslav Klose damaged knee ligaments a month ago after scoring in his side's 3-2 defeat against Hamburger SV, the coach has been looking for the right man to partner the 22-year-old.

No1 choice
With ten goals in the Bundesliga and three more in the UEFA Champions League, Kuranyi has become one of Völler's first-choice strikers. And while he picked up a slight meniscus injury playing against Eintracht Frankfurt last week, he confirmed his commitment to the German cause by delaying any surgery until after EURO 2004™.

Freier flounders
In Germany's last friendly, a 3-0 win against Belgium in Cologne, Kuranyi was paired with VfL Bochum 1848's Paul Freier. Despite the result, the match confirmed that Freier's real strength lies in playing as a winger and that an out-and-out striker's role does not suit his game.

Bobic back
It is likely that the game in Bucharest will see Völler try something different. Having scored in a 3-0 win against Kaiserslautern this weekend, Hertha BSC Berlin forward Fredi Bobic looks likely to return in the hope of adding to his tally of nine goals in 32 games for Germany.

Fruitful pairing
Aside from being the most prolific international striker in Völler's squad, the 32-year-old has done well in the past playing alongside Kuranyi. The two played together when Germany beat Scotland 2-1 in September and paired up again the following month for the 3-0 win againt Iceland that booked Germany's place in Portugal. Encouragingly, Bobic scored in both matches.

Neuville chance
There is still an outside chance that Völler may wish to give Bayer 04 Leverkusen's Oliver Neuville another chance, but having found it hard to carve out a regular niche in a successful Leverkusen side this season - and having scored just four goals in 47 games for Germany - a place on the bench seems more likely.

Young option
Such is the coach's concern over strikers that he is considering some unexpected candidates for Portugal, like 1. FC Köln starlet Lukas Podolski. "He is a bright young player and we are looking at him," said Völler. "He has only just broken into the Under-21 national team and that is why we left him there this time."

Max power
The 44-year-old is also looking at one very experienced striker - FC Hansa Rostock's Martin Max. Currently the best German striker in the Bundesliga with 18 goals, the 35-year old scored 124 goals as a member of FC Schalke 04's 1997 UEFA Cup-winning side, but has been consistently overlooked by Germany.

German cheer
His striking options may not be formidable, but the coach has plenty to be cheerful about. Having been less than convincing in qualifying for EURO 2004™, Germany's form has been good in recent friendlies, with wins against Belgium and fellow finalists Croatia buoying the confidence of Völler's youthful side.

Competitive impulse
Klose is expected to be back to full fitness in good time to play in Portugal, but in his absence, it would do the coach no harm to create some tangible competition for places in the forward line.


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