Germany scramble draw against Japan

Germany's Michael Ballack(R) is challenged by Japan's Takashi Fukunishi during their friendly match in Leverkusen in preparation for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The two teams tied 2-2.

World Cup hosts Germany needed a late comeback to salvage a 2-2 draw against Japan in a warm-up for the finals.

With the World Cup just 10 days away, Germany -- who open the tournament against Costa Rica on June 9 -- looked to be heading for an untimely defeat at 2-0 down.

Naohiro Takahara, who plays his football for German club SV Hamburg, had put Asian champions Japan two goals up with a brace (57 min, 65) inside eight minutes.

Germany looked to be heading for only their second home defeat in the two-year reign of manager Jurgen Klinsmann but hit back late on.

Miroslav Klose pulled one back with a scrambled effort in the 76th minute and Bastian Schweinsteiger powered home a header four minutes later to equalize.

Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrates after scoring against Japan to tie the match at 2-2 during their friendly game in Leverkusen, Germany.

It was a game full of attacking verve but both Klinsmann and Japan coach Zico will know there is a lot of room for improvement with both defenses suspect.

Japan, quarter-finalists at the 2002 World Cup, open their World Cup campaign game against Australia in Kaiserslautern on June 12.

Klinsmann fielded his strongest team with captain Michael Ballack shrugging off an ankle injury to return on the ground where he made his name with Bayer Leverkusen.

Ballack showed no sign of struggling and was behind most of Germany's best moves early on as the hosts had a succession of corners but could not make any count.

But Japan had the first opening on the quarter hour mark.

Germany were carved open down the left and Bolton midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata forced a brilliant point blank save from goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

Two minutes later Lehmann was called into action again as striker Atsushi Yanagisawa raced through on goal but hit the ball straight at the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Germany's Michael Ballack(R) looks at Greek referee Kyros Vassaras during a friendly match against Japan in Leverkusen in preparation for the 2006 FIFA Football World Cup. The two teams tied 2-2.

Going forward Germany were far more polished and in the 24th minute Ballack had a goalbound shot deflected wide.

Lukas Podolski then went close with a shot at the near post although he maybe would have been better playing the ball square.

In the 54th minute Japan produced the best move of the match with three first time passes releasing Yuji Nakazawa but his shot was blocked by Marcell Jansen.

But three minutes later the breakthrough arrived with Takahara finishing a great move by rifling past Lehmann.

Takahara doubled his tally, and that of his team, eight minutes later with a great swivel turn and thumped a shot past Lehmann.

Klose and Schweinsteiger then sealed the German comeback and both sides could have won it in the closing stages.

Germany face Colombia in Monchengladbach on Friday for their final warm-up match while Japan take on Malta in Dusseldorf on Sunday.