Two goals from Miroslav Klose saw Germany cruise past Wales 2-0 at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff.

Germany took the lead in just the sixth minute, with Klose slotting home from a fine Kevin Kuranyi pass, before the Bayern Munich man thumped home a close-range header on the hour mark to put the result beyond doubt.

Wales may be left to wonder what might have been had Craig Bellamy not withdrawn due to an illness to his daughter, though the home side were both outplayed and outfought all over the pitch.

The result sees Germany retain their five point lead at the top of the group, while Wales can expect their mathematical chances of qualification to disappear completely if they turn in another performance of this level in Slovakia on Wednesday.

Joachim Loew's side were quick out of the blocks, seizing early control of the midfield, and their first goal gave an early indicator as to how the rest of the match would pan out. Thomas Hitzlsperger dispossessed the hesitant Jason Koumas in midfield, Kuranyi picked up the loose ball and fed Klose, who fired an early first-time shot low into the far corner.

The movement and vision of Bastian Schweinsteiger in the heart of the midfield meant the Welsh were encamped in their own half, while Germany went in search of a second goal.

That almost arrived on 23 minutes as Schweinsteiger clipped a delicate pass through the centre of defence for Kuranyi, and only a last-ditch challenge from Lewin Nyatanga denied the Schalke man a free shot from just eight yards out.

Three minutes later the Germans carved Wales apart again as Hitzlsperger sent Marcell Janssen in down the left, and only a diving interception from Collins denied Klose another opportunity.

The West Ham man had to be at his sharpest again to deny Kuranyi on 38 minutes after Nyatanga had given the ball straight to Roberto Hilbert deep in his own half.

Wales emerged with a new-found verve and confidence at the start of the second half as they began to string passes together for the first time in the match, though they stumbled at the foot of a well-drilled German defence, and a half-hearted penalty appeal as substitute Robert Earnshaw fell in the area was the most they could show for their efforts.

Inevitably, Germany soon found their feet again, and their impressive passing and movement of the first half resumed, with Hennessy forced into low saves from Piotr Trochowski and Hilbert.

There was nothing he could do about Klose's second though, which stemmed from a mistake from Gareth Bale at left back. The Spurs man lost possession to Hilbert on the right, and he picked out Klose's run with an inch-perfect cross, allowing the big striker to take his international tally to an impressive 35 goals in 70 matches.

Klose looked set to complete his hat-trick three minutes later as he set himself in the centre of the area, though this time he fired his shot straight at the overworked Wayne Hennessy.

Wales' only real effort of the second half came from Earnshaw, who latched into a long ball over the top of the German defence, though his shot flew high and wide.

Lukas Podolski was given a run out late on, and almost wrapped up the win in stoppage time after Trochowski's pull back, though his fierce shot hit Collins square in the face and cannoned away.

IRISH DENIED IN SLOVAKIA

Ireland conceded an injury-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Slovakia in their Euro 2008 Group D qualifying match.

Kevin Doyle had looked to have won Ireland the match with a spectacular strike but lax defending allowed the hosts to equalise.

Steve Staunton's men got off to a superb start when, on seven minutes, Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland chipped the ball past Slovakia keeper Stefan Senecky after Robbie Keane cleverly dummied Kevin Kilbane's low, left wing cross.

The hosts were stunned by the early lead but worked their way back into the match, Marek Sapara forcing one good save in particular from Shay Given just after the half hour mark, with Marek Hamsik also going close but denied by the Newcastle keeper.

And they got their reward when, eight minutes before the break, Jan Durica flicked a corner across goal for fellow defender Maros Klimpl - who had got between Given and Paul McShane - to head into the roof of the net.

Ireland survived a scare just before half time when John O'Shea tried to control the ball on his own penalty spot, failed and played Given into trouble, his clearance cannoning off Filip Holosko and just over the bar.

The sides traded chances after the restart, O'Shea for Ireland and Marek Mintal for Slovakia, but it was Doyle who broke the deadlock when, seemingly running up a blind alley, he let rip with a superb left-foot shot from outside the area that curled into the top left on 57 minutes.

Ireland then looked to kill the game, slowing its tempo and frustrating Slovakia, O'Shea at one point finding himself in a great position to finish them off but fluffing his finish.

But Slovakia made a final push in the closing minutes, one which Ireland seemed to have ridden when Richard Dunne heroically prevented Mintal from getting a 90th-minute equaliser.

Poor concentration possibly emanating from a lack of experience proved their undoing, though, sub Jonathan Douglas looking out of his depth and letting Marek Cech run unchecked to the edge of the box to drill home in injury-time following O'Shea's failure to clear his lines.

The result keeps Ireland in third sport although they would go second with a win at the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

Reda Maher & Michael FitzGerald / Eurosport