Germany put a dire first half behind them to run out 3-0 winners over wasteful Austria in their Euro 2008 dress rehearsal at the Ernst Happel Stadium on Wednesday.

The European Championship co-hosts had Germany on the ropes for the first 45 minutes of an entertaining friendly but Thomas Hitzlsperger blasted the ball in from the edge of the box after 53 minutes to set Germany on their way.

Miroslav Klose swooped for his 37th international goal soon afterwards and substitute Mario Gomez headed home the third 10 minutes from time.

Austria coach Josef Hickersberger will at least take heart from a good first half display, when Roland Linz had a goalbound shot cleared and Martin Harnik headed against the bar.

Michael Ballack, back for his first international since March 2007, went close when he headed over the bar in the first half and the Germany captain grew more influential as the game went on.

‘We had a pretty bumpy start but we took advantage of our chances and they didn’t,’ Ballack told German TV.

Austria and Germany will reconvene in Vienna on June 16 when they play their final match in Group B at Euro 2008.

Conventional wisdom has …

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Werder Bremen slipped three points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich when they capped a bad week with a 2-1 defeat at home to Bochum on Sunday.

Daniel Jensen gave Werder the lead just before halftime and the home side were in control until Benjamin Auer nipped in for an equaliser in the 68th minute.

Werder hopes were hit by a red card for centre-back Naldo two minutes later and Anthar Yahia made them pay when he grabbed a late winner.

Sunday’s defeat was a third disappointment for the club in six days, after the first and second teams were knocked out of the German Cup on consecutive nights this week.

It gave Bayern breathing space at the top with 39 points from 18 games following a 2-1 win over Hansa Rostock on Friday.

Werder, who stay second on 36, must travel to face Bayern in the Bundesliga match next Sunday, knowing defeat would leave them six points adrift.

Schalke 04 made a great start to the second half of the season with a 4-1 home win over champions VfB Stuttgart.

Kevin Kuranyi got two of the goals against his former club and there was more to celebrate when Ze Roberto …

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Goals by Franck Ribery and Luca Toni gave leaders Bayern Munich a 2-1 win at Hansa Rostock on Friday in the first Bundesliga match after the mid-season break.

The result took Bayern three points ahead of second-placed Werder Bremen with 39 points from 18 matches. Werder are not in action until Sunday, when they host Bochum.

Bayern, who warmed up for the match with a 5-2 Cup win at Wuppertal in midweek, were quickly on the attack and went ahead in the 10th minute when France midfielder Ribery supplied a deft finish to Ze Roberto’s cross.

After a number of near misses, Italy striker Toni doubled the lead just before the break when he swept the ball in from 10 metres for his 10th league goal of the season, putting him top of the Bundesliga scoring charts.

Enrico Kern pulled one back for Rostock in the 52nd minute, following up after Oliver Kahn saved his original shot and the rebound struck the bar.

Although that was careless from Bayern — and Kahn looked suitably furious with his defenders for their failure to clear — Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side came through a nervous spell to regain control and their victory was scarcely …

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