"It's a big relief," admitted Germany striker Mario Gomez, following his team's runaway win, in which he fired in four goals. "It wasn't the strongest of opponents, but I'm happy to have to have broken the curse."

Gomez's goal drought had indeed amounted to a curse – one that had lasted a whopping 829 minutes of play over 15 games, stretching back to before the European Championships last summer.

Having scored four goals (35', 45', 48', 90'), Gomez was in good humor after the match. He told reporters it was a good thing he'd scored in injury time, otherwise they'd already have a good 40 minutes to count towards his next goalless stretch.

Gomez is on the move from VfB Stuttgart to Bayern Munich this summer for a Bundesliga-record transfer fee of 30 million euros.

Who is No. 1?

Manuel Neuer is another player reported to be on Bayern's shopping list, but his new manager at Schalke, Felix Magath, has been quick to put a "not for sale" sign around his neck. A performance like Tuesday's in Dubai shows why.

In his debut start for Germany, the 23-year-old Neuer saved a header from Mahmoud Khamis to keep Germany from going behind in the early going, and kept out a number of other UAE chances to keep the game well in hand for the visitors.

"It was great, I really enjoyed the match, even if I would have preferred to keep a clean sheet," said Neuer.

The regular starting goalkeeping job for Germany has been up for grabs since last summer, when Jens Lehmann bowed out after Euro 2008. Neuer faces competition for the spot from Hanover's 31-year-old Robert Enke, who started last week's game in China, as well as Rene Adler (Leverkusen, 24) and Tim Wiese (Bremen, 27).

A good first impression

Neuer received high marks from a few important names in the German football firmament.

Goalkeeping great Oliver Kahn, commenting on the game for German television, called Neuer "very assured" and said he had made "an outstanding impression."

Germany coach Joachim Loew, moreover, mentioned Neuer's debut as one of the bright spots of the team's tour, which began in China, took it to the Gulf, and had been criticized as a marketing exercise.

"The trip was worth it," he said, "because we found out a couple of important things. Manuel Neuer played well in goal, and Mario Gomez started scoring again. And those two things please me."

mrh/dpa/AFP

Editor: Chuck Penfold