Germany focused on next business

Coach Joachim Loew was careful to keep a sense of perspective after seeing Germany run riot in a 13-0 victory over San Marino.

The result set a record for the biggest victory in European Championship history, bettering Spain's 12-1 win over Malta in 1983, and equalling Germany's heaviest win outside the Olympic Games.

Bild newspaper called Wednesday's game "an amazing goal party", but Loew was anxious not to get carried away.

"We're completely satisfied but I had no idea about the records," said Loew, who has presided over three wins out of three since replacing Juergen Klinsmann after the World Cup.

"It really doesn't matter if we scored 11, 12 or 13. It was just good to see the players going forward on the attack, and to win the game. We can still improve on certain things - with our pressing and in staying compact on the pitch."

Germany's biggest win was a 16-0 success against Russia at the 1912 Olympics, and they have one other 13-0 win to their credit, against Finland on September 1st, 1940.

The Germans now lead Euro 2008 qualifying Group D with six points from two games, following a less spectacular 1-0 victory over Ireland in Stuttgart on Saturday.

Czech Republic are second, also with six points but behind Germany on goal difference. Slovakia are third on three points after losing 3-0 at home to the Czechs, but Loew is not yet ready to call the group as a two-way fight.

"The Czechs are seemingly our hardest opponents," Loew said. "But Ireland will cause a lot of problems and I wouldn't write off Slovakia, despite the result."

Germany's next qualifier is away to Slovakia on October 11th.

Meanwhile, Raymond Domenech has hinted he will offer Chelsea a compromise in the dispute over Claude Makelele's availability for Les Bleus, although the France manager would only countenance the midfielder missing friendly fixtures and not competitive games.

Domenech's insistence on selecting the 33-year-old for the recent games against Georgia and Italy incensed Chelsea, who were under the impression Makelele had retired from international football after the summer's World Cup.

The player himself admitted he had told the France Football Federation that he would be unavailable, but he was embarrassed by Jose Mourinho's public assertion that he was being treated as a "slave" after France insisted he play for them.

Makelele featured in both games and was outstanding against the Italians in Paris on Wednesday night, with Domenech subsequently confirming that, backed by Fifa rules, he would continue to select the midfielder. That will hardly placate the Premiership champions, who are to hold talks with their player to discuss his options.

"He has the right to say what he wants and I have the right to do what I want and retain him against Italy, Ukraine and even against his own wishes," said the France coach, who intends to select Makelele for next month's qualifiers against Scotland and the Faroe Islands. "The (Fifa) law's behind me.

"The France team must have its best players available, that's clear. From what I saw against Italy, he still has his best years ahead of him.

"There is a way of managing the problem. We'll have friendly games, matches to prepare, and there will be other players who could feature.

"Makelele will retire one day. He's going to turn 34 so, little by little, we'll have to blood others to take over.

"But, when it comes to competitive matches with three points at stake, clearly my best team will play."

Domenech was delighted with Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Italy.

"The perfect match is when you score on every attacking move and when your opponents never put you in real trouble," he said. "We were not far from that."