World Cup: Germany striker Lukas Podolski eyeing glory in Brazil this summer

Lukas Podolski says that Germany have their sights set on World Cup glory this summer after finishing third in the last two tournaments.

Podolski, who is Germany’s third most-capped player of all time, is set to compete in his third World Cup since making his international debut in 2004, with Joachim Low’s side among the favourites to lift the trophy in Brazil.

Low was Jurgen Klinsmann’s assistant in 2006 as eventual champions Italy pipped them to a place in the final, while they were edged out in the semi-finals by Spain four years later at South Africa 2010.

Podolski has had to settle for bronze medals in both of his previous World Cup campaigns, beating Portugal and Uruguay respectively in the third-place play-off games, but he believes they are now better suited to go all the way.

"At the World Cup in 2006, our team wasn’t a mature one but on the other hand no-one thought that we’d go so far," he told Fakt.pl. 

"We reached the third place and it was a sign that we are moving towards the right direction. In the following years we also played very well and now it’s time for the next step."

Germany will take on Portugal, Ghana and USA in Group G and Podolski knows they will have a battle on their hands to reach the knock-out stages.

"We go to Brazil to fight for winning the title. It will not be easy because we have a difficult group," he said.

"If we go through, then each game will be like a final for us. We will fight."