09.06.2014 18:52 h

Football: Police take arrows before Indians dance for Klose

Brazilian police took away the arrows that Pataxos Indians had planned to use in a traditional dance for Germany's World Cup squad on Monday as striker Miroslav Klose marked his 36th birthday.

About 20 Pataxos dressed in traditional grass skirts, feather head dresses and bows performed the welcome dance for the Germans after training at their Santo Andre camp.

Security forces confiscated the arrows, but did not give a reason why.

Klose and his other squad members were invited to join the native dance and Lukas Podolski launched enthusiastically into the show.

After a group photo, the German players offered their shirts to the Indians.

Klose, who on Friday broke Gerd Mueller's all-time national scoring record in netting his 69th goal in the 6-1 win over Armenia, is eyeing the record for goals scored in a world Cup finals. He presently has 14 to his name, one behind Brazil's Ronaldo.

The squad, who arrived at their training 'Campo Bahia' base on Sunday, were watched by dozens of spectators as they were put through their paces and played a practice game on a reduced sized pitch.

All trained normally, including first choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who did not take part in Germany's warm-up matches after injuring a shoulder in Bayern Munich's German Cup final victory on May 17.

Neuer and Mesut Ozil were among six players who signed autographs and had their photos taken with the spectators at the end of the session.

Germany open their campaign against Portugal on June 16, before taking on 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists Ghana on June 21 and United States on June 26.