International Friendly - Romania 5 Germany 1: Germany suffered their worst away defeat for 65 years last night when they were thrashed 5-1 by Romania, who the Republic of Ireland play in their next friendly at Lansdowne Road on May 27th.
The hosts cruised into a 4-0 lead at half-time as Mihaita Plesan, defender Razvan Rat, with a fine lob, and Ionel Danciulescu twice took advantage of poor defending by a disorganised German side.
Gabriel Caramarin added a fifth for Romania, and also hit the woodwork, and Philipp Lahm's strike a minute from time was only a small consolation for the 2002 World Cup runners-up.
It was Germany's worst defeat since they also lost 5-1 at home to England in a World Cup qualifier in September 2001.
They lost 8-3 to Hungary in the group stage of the 1954 World Cup in neutral Basel while their worst away defeat before this friendly, also 5-1, came at the hands of Hungary in a 1939 friendly in Budapest.
Goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn, who went off at half-time after shipping four goals, did not hide his disappointment.
"There is no excuse for this defeat," he said. "The fact that the line-up today was unusual makes no difference. It is a shame and a bitter setback. I am lost for words. We were just slaughtered in the first half."
Germany will have to do some serious soul searching before this summer's European Championships in Portugal as they have a tough task having been placed in Group with the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Latvia.
"I blame myself for coming here with a depleted squad," German coach Rudi Voeller said. "I take my hat off to a great Romanian team. It hurts. The starting line-up will certainly not be used again but still, the players on the pitch were all experienced professionals.
"I am also to blame because the defensive system I had opted for (flat back four with unusual pairing of Carsten Ramelow and Jens Jeremies in central defence) simply did not work. After 20 minutes already it was a disaster. That's my fault."
Romania, forced to field an experimental team in the absence of injured striker Adrian Mutu and with captain Cristian Chivu substituted after only 22 minutes, had a fine first half.
"I think nobody expected this. We were missing some key players but we managed to have a good performance," Rat said. "I hope a new team is going to be born."
ROMANIA: Lobont; Stoican, Rat, Iencsi, Chivu, Radoi, Dica , F Petre, Ganea, Plesan, Danciulescu. Subs: Ghionea for Chivu (35 mins), Caramarin for Dica and Neaga for Danciulescu (70 mins), O Petre for Plesan (75 mins), Contra for F Petre (77 mins).
GERMANY: Kahn; Friederich, Ernst, Ramelow, Frings, Hamann, Bobic, Jeremies, Schneider, Lahm, Kuranyi. Subs: Hildebrand for Kahn and Freier for Frings (46 mins), Neuville for Bobic (63 mins), Kehl for Ernst (77 mins)
Referee: R Rosetti (Italy)
