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No sporting event brings out nationalistic passions for fans and athletes alike quite like the World Cup, so it's not hard to imagine how torn Miroslav Klose must have been when it came time to decide whether to play for his native Poland or the land of his upbringing, Germany, at the 2002 World Cup.
Much to the delight of German coach Rudi Voeller and dismay of Poland coach Jerzy Engel, the high-scoring Klose's ultimately belonged to Germany, where he is a star in the Bundesliga.
"While I do have dual nationality, I feel that football-wise I'm German," Klose told World Soccer magazine. "I play in the Bundesliga, and it would be a dream to play for Germany."
Born in Opole, Poland, Klose's parents were both athletes; his father, Josef, enjoyed a stellar soccer career, while his mother, Barbara, had a distinguished career in team handball. The family moved to Germany when Klose was only nine - young enough to feel that his adopted country was his real home.
Once Klose's mind was set on playing for Germany, the young striker was pressed into service during World Cup qualifying during his first full season in the Bundesliga. He quickly earned the adoration of Germany with his clutch scoring: scoring a game-winning goal in the dying minutes of a match with Albania and heading home the late-game winner in a game against Greece four days later.
Meanwhile, he was lighting up the Bundesliga with a tremendous run of goals for the Kaisersalutern side he led to the UEFA Cup semi-finals. Putting the exclamation point on his growing reputation for explosive scoring, he stunned Israel with a 13-minute hat trick last February.
While the German World Cup squad suffered a number of injuries to some of its most creative playmakers, Klose's remarkable scoring prowess is more important than ever to Germany's chances. Just 22, he's already drawing comparisons to Jurgen Klinsmann, one of the leaders of the World Cup champion German team of 1990.
He won't outmuscle a whole lot of defenders, but his speed and energy are such that they're just trying to keep up with him, anyway.
"I have been impressed by his flair for goals, speed and strong heading," Voeller told World Soccer. "In Klose and Christian Timm of Koln we have a pair of young forwards with huge potential."
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