Klose closing in on Ronaldo's World Cup record | Thebigtip

Klose has a chance to equal Ronaldo's 15 FIFA World Cup goals - by Christopher Boyd at foxsports.com.au

If Germany and Uruguay players are struggling for motivation ahead of the World Cup third place playoff, one can be certain that Die Mannschaft striker Miroslav Klose isn't one of them.

Klose, 32, sits just one goal behind Brazil great Ronaldo's all-time record of 15 goals in World Cup finals. However the Poland-born marksman will have to overcome a back injury which has placed his bid for the record in doubt.

"Klose has problems with his back,'' assistant coach Hansi Flick said following Germany's 1-0 semi-final loss to Spain.

"He was hurt in an aerial duel, and we are hoping that he will be okay for the match.''

The presence of Klose in Sunday morning's (EST) clash against Uruguay would add greater significance to a fixture often deemed inconsequential by distraught fans reeling from their team's semi-final exit.

The Bayern Munich striker will be 36 by the time Brazil 2014 rolls around, meaning the Uruguay match could well be Klose's final appearance on the World Cup stage.

Having announced himself at the 2002 finals with five goals in the lead-up to his nation's 2-0 loss to Brazil in the final, Klose then added another five goals to his tally in front of home fans at Germany 2006.

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