Miroslav Klose deserves German goal record, says Gerd Mueller

Gerd Mueller beleives Germany striker Miroslav Klose deserves to break his 39-year-old goalscoring record which could fall in Friday's World Cup qualifier against Austria.

Klose, 35, is just one short of Mueller's all-time record for Germany of 68 goals, the last of which came in the 1974 World Cup final.

Having scored his last two goals for Germany in the 4-4 draw with Sweden in Berlin in October 2012, Klose now has 128 international appearances and 67 goals and Mueller said he would be pleased to see the Poland-born forward claim his record.

"For a long time, it has just been a question of time until he breaks my record. I am really pleased for him," the 67-year-old Mueller told SID, an AFP subsidiary.

"Miro is an awesome striker and a great bloke, who I got to know during his time with Bayern Munich. He deserves the record."

Germany host Austria in a World Cup qualifier on Friday at Munich's Allianz Arena and ex-Bayern star Mueller said he has no problem if the record falls in his home city.

Klose has said he expects the record to fall soon and it could well be broken in the next week as Germany also play minnows Faroe Islands next Tuesday.

The Lazio striker has often been asked about the record and is embarrassed to be compared to Mueller, who needed just 62 games to set the record, and has said: "It's an absolute joke to compare me to him.

"He shouldn't be compared to anyone, what he has achieved, with that many goals in that many games, is unique. I have told him that myself."

Set to celebrate his 36th birthday before the 2014 World Cup, Klose expects to retire after the tournament and with 14 goals spanning three tournaments, he could break Ronaldo's record of 15 in Brazil.