Germany kicked off their World Cup preparations in style with a 7-0 thrashing of lowly Luxembourg on Saturday with Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and Oliver Neuville all scoring two goals each.

Klose opened the scoring in the fifth minute before an 18th-minute penalty by Torsten Frings and a Podolski strike gave the hosts a comfortable 3-0 half-time lead.

The attacking duo continued to get the better of the visiting defence in the second half, with Klose connecting again in the 59th and Podolski sinking Germany's second spot-kick six minutes later.

Oliver Neuville then completed the demolition by grabbing a brace in injury time.

It was a quiet night for Germany goalkeepers Jens Lehmann and Oliver Kahn who both played a half each.

Playing in the first of three World Cup warm-ups in their home country, Germany looked keen to impress their boisterous fans from the first whistle onwards.

Podolski found himself in the clear after just 30 seconds but was left with too little space after rounding goalkeeper Marc Oberweis.

The Cologne striker did better four minutes later after Bastian Schweinsteiger created an opening in the left-hand side of the penalty area.

Podolski chipped the ball over to Klose who had no trouble hitting the back of the net from close range for the early lead.

Germany's much-criticised defence was exposed in the ninth minute when Sebastian Remy had no marker near him on the left wing.

His low cross was met by Alphonse Leweck who failed to get off a proper shot from eight metres out.

Bremen ace Tim Borowski showed his brilliant form by firing a pinpoint cross to team-mate Klose in the 11th minute only for the Werder hitman to hit the woodwork with his powerful header.

Schweinsteiger, who started in place of injured midfielder Michael Ballack, then gave a taste of his talent by outfoxing two defenders on the left byline.

The 21-year-old cleverly played the ball through Tim Heinz's legs who could not help but bring down the Munich star.

Frings made no mistake and calmly placed the spot-kick past Oberweis.

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann suffered a injury scare in the 27th minute as both Robert Huth (leg) and Klose (elbow) needed treatment before both were able to play on.

Podolski then got his name on the scoresheet from what appeared to be an offside position after Borowski had nicely set him up with a through-ball for a close-range finish.

Oberweis denied Germany their fourth goal in the 41st when he superbly fisted over a 20-metre blast from Borowski.

Klinsmann made four changes after the break, bringing on Kahn for Arsenal stopper Lehmann.

The former number one, greeted warmly by the sell-out crowd, easily saved Charles Leweck's shot in the 51st minute.

Another stroke of genius by Schweinsteiger, who quickly played a left-wing free-kick to Klose in the box, set up the Bremen striker4s second goal of the night as he hammered the ball home from 10 metres out on the left.

Six minutes later in the 65th minute, Podolski also completed a brace when he converted Germany's second spot-kick after Oberweis was booked for clipping Asamoah in the box.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Gerald Asamoah got on a Schweinsteiger corner but saw his header hitting the left post.

Kahn easily saved a close-rang effort from Jeff Strasser before substitute Neuville scored two quick goals in injury time to complete the rout.