Germany 1

Wales 0

IT WAS the same old story for Wales in Monchengladbach as they battled bravely but came away with no reward.

Just as in Russia last month John Toshack’s men put in a fantastic performance but were eventually undone by superior opponents.

Newport’s James Collins was outstanding in a real fight-them-on-the-beaches display but a stunning Piotr Trochowski goal on 72 minutes was enough for Germany to seal the win.

As expected Toshack made only one change from the side which beat Liechtenstein 2-0 on Saturday with Collins coming in for striker Sam Vokes.

That meant a change in system from 4-4-2 to 5-4-1 with Collins slotting into a three-man central defence alongside Craig Morgan and Ashley Williams and captain Craig Bellamy leading the line on his own up front.

Chelsea star Michael Ballack shook off his injury worries to skipper the Germans, who lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with the formidable pairing of Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose in attack.

Ballack had the first shot in anger on 11 minutes but his well-struck effort from the edge of the D was bravely blocked by Collins and the danger was averted.

Klose went closer five minutes later with a first-time effort into the side-netting after Wales failed to deal properly with a cross from right-back Arne Friedrich.

Bellamy had the visitors’ first shot at goal on 17 minutes but his speculative strike from 30 yards was wildly off target and failed to threaten Rene Adler in the German goal.

Klose spurned another chance shortly afterwards when he headed Bastian Schweinsteiger’s free-kick high and wide having risen above the Welsh defence at the far post.

As Bellamy promised before the match, Toshack’s team were defending in numbers and looking to counter-attack at every opportunity and the tactic almost came good on 27 minutes when Gareth Bale released his skipper and the West Ham striker went close with a left-foot shot across goal which had Adler worried.

But Germany continued to dominate possession and Schweinsteiger, who tore Wales apart at the Millennium Stadium last year, was again in impressive form, letting rip with a 30-yard rocket just over Wayne Hennessey’s bar.

The pressure was building on the Welsh defence as the Germans earned a series of corners before the break and Ballack tested Hennessey once again with a stinging drive on 43 minutes.

But with the inspired Collins getting in the way of everything they held out until half-time.

Joachim Low surprisingly opted to replace Klose, who didn’t seem to be carrying an injury, with Patrick Helmes after the interval and the new boy was involved in a slick move which ended with Collins blocking a Piotr Trochowski goal-bound effort on 50 minutes.

And the West Ham defender was at it again a minute later, throwing himself in the way of Podolski’s well-struck shot as the match stepped up in pace dramatically.

Wales earned their first corner on 53 minutes and another two minutes later when David Edwards put Bellamy through and the 29-year-old saw his snap shot beaten away by Adler. Suddenly it was end-to-end stuff as Wales visibly grew in confidence and the rain came teeming down.

Trochowski should have opened the scoring just before the hour mark but he completely scuffed his shot from six yards out after Schweinsteiger picked him out.

Collins the colossus then scrambled a Trochowski cross behind at the near post. Schweinsteiger again went close from 25 yards and Lahm hit the side-netting as the match reached fever pitch.

On 69 minutes Collins and Bale somehow got in the way of Helmes who seemed certain to score, Schweinsteiger saw his effort tipped round the post and from the resulting corner the relentless German pressure finally told.

Hennessey saved well with his feet from Heiko Westermann but the ball was cleared to Trochowski who turned Edwards inside and out before unleashing an unstoppable right-foot curler which gave the Wolves keeper no chance as it sailed into his top left-hand corner.

Roared on by the noisy home support Germany poured forward. Ballack hit a post with a clever free-kick and the goal scorer Trochowski almost added a second.

Toshack responded by sending on Ched Evans and Carl Robinson in place of Edwards and Carl Fletcher and straight away Bellamy beat his man on the left and crossed for Newport’s Chris Gunter who fired his shot against the legs of Lahm.

The Spurs star was then replaced by Sam Ricketts as Toshack rolled the dice one last time but it wasn’t to be for Wales as they once again had to settle for an honourable defeat.

Germany: Adler, Friedrich (Fritz, 65), Westermann, Lahm, Mertesacker, Trochowski, Schweinsteiger, Ballack (cap), Hitzlsperger, Podolski (Gomez, 82), Klose (Helmes, 45). Subs not used: Wiese, Tacsi, Rolfes, Frings.

Wales: Hennessey, Gunter (Ricketts, 86), Bale, Morgan, Collins, Williams, Fletcher (Robinson, 77), Davies, Koumas, Edwards (Evans, 77), Bellamy (cap).Subs not used: Myhill, Cotterill, Nyatanga, Vaughan.

Booked: Ricketts

Referee: Laurent Duhamel (France)

Argus star man: James Collins