Ballack caps easy German win over naive Belgium

Germany's Michael Ballack(L) is challenegd by Belgium's Philippe Clement(R) in their friendly match in Cologne

Germany warmed up for the 2004 European championships with a 3-0 win over Belgium in the first ever international match at the RheinEnergie Stadium.

Goals from VfB Stuttgart's Brazilian-born striker Kevin Kuranyi, Liverpool midfield ace Dietmar Hamann and Michael Ballack clinched a much-needed win after the World Cup finalists lost their last home match 3-0 to European champions France.

Germany have won an impressive 15 out of 19 international outings in Cologne and the 46,000 fans at the new stadium, one of the 2006 World Cup venues, welcomed a comfortable victory over a young Belgian side absent from the Euro finals.

In a tight opening phase Belgium' pacy Mbo Mpenza gave the World Cup finalists a nervous moment on two minutes when his deceptive backwards header crept past goalkeeper Jens Lehmann's right hand post.

The Arsenal custodian, 34, was making a rare start in the German goal as Oliver Kahn was rested but did not have to make a single save in the 90 minutes.

Bernd Schneider had the first opening for the home side on five minutes, curling a fierce shot just wide of the upright.

After missing the last international match through illness Bayern Munich midfielder Ballack, operating behind lone striker Kuranyi, was back in the fold and had a chance to break the deadlock on 27 minutes.

Germany's Dietmar Hamann(C) is congratulated by his teammates after he scored against Belgium in their friendly match in Cologne

With the ball on the edge of the penalty area Ballack stepped up but his drive rebounded off the wall to safety.

Belgian's main weak spot was from corner kicks and after a few scares they were undone on the chime of half-time.

A floated corner from the right wreaked havoc in the box and rebounded into the net off the chest of Kuranyi to give Germany the lead.

After the interval Germany pushed forward and midfielder Hamann doubled the lead on 55 minutes with a quick-thinking free-kick.

With the Belgian defence reorganising Hamann crashed a shot home from 25 metres reminiscent of his intelligent free kick against England that capped a 1-0 win in the final match at Wembley Stadium.

Substitute Oliver Neuville almost made it 3-0 in the 67th minute using his pace to power past the out-of-sorts Belgian rearguard but Frederic Herpoel parried the effort to keep the scoreline down.

However, Herpoel was helpless to prevent Ballack's glancing header nine minutes from time which sealed an impressive display from the Bayern Munich man.

Three goals will come as a welcome boost for Germany but Rudi Voller will be aware that Holland and the Czech Republic, two opponents in the European championships, will provide much sterner tests than a Belgian team rebuilding for the 2006 World Cup.