Welcome to the club, Ronaldo tells 'old guy' Klose
Germany hails veteran striker after he equals Brazilian great's record in 2-2 draw with Ghana
Germany hailed its evergreen hero Miroslav Klose after he equalled Ronaldo's record of 15 goals at World Cup finals with one of his most important strikes.
The 36-year-old tapped in a crucial equaliser against Ghana two minutes after coming on as substitute. Klose performed his trademark celebratory flip and the tributes came flooding in.
"Welcome to the club," Brazilian great Ronaldo Tweeted. "I can only imagine your happiness!!! What a beautiful Cup!!!"
I'm incredibly pleased for [Klose]. That is another high point in his unparalleled career
Germany coach Joachim Loew and the country's media also paid tribute to the Lazio striker, now at his fourth World Cup finals, whose goal even overshadowed a brilliant Lionel Messi strike against Iran that saw Argentina into the second round.
"Thanks, Old Guy!" headlined the Bild am Sonntag tabloid on its front page, showing a photo of Germany's all-time record scorer doing his flip jump.
"Klose rescues Germany," said the broadsheet Welt am Sonntag highlighting his role in the dramatic game which finished 2-2.
The Berliner Morgenpost proclaimed it's "world class to have a striker like Klose".
"I'm incredibly pleased for him. That is another high point in his unparalleled career," said Loew.