Leipzig, Germany  - Germany defeated minnows Liechtenstein 4-0 on Saturday with efficiency rather than class to maintain a four-point lead in their World Cup qualifying group.

Captain Michael Ballack opened the scoring in the fourth minute, his 40th personal goal and 200th for Germany in World Cup qualifying overall. Marcell Jansen, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski got the other goals.

Germany top Group 4 with 13 points from five games ahead of Russia, who have nine from four games. Only the group winner qualifies directly for the 2010 finals in South Africa.

"We fulfilled our duty," said Schweinsteiger. "We had chances but didn't get as many goals as we wanted. But the result is still OK."

Liechtenstein goalkeeper Peter Jehle said: "I am a little disappointed how we conceded the goals early in each half. We made life to easy for the Germans but in the end we played a decent match."

Coach Joachim Loew had to make several changes due to injuries concerning among others striker Miroslav Klose, midfielder Torsten Frings and defender Arne Friedrich.

TSG Hoffenheim defender Andreas Beck started for a first time and Hanover's Robert Enke returned between the posts from a hand fracture.

Germany were determined from the start to make up for home defeats against England and Norway in their last two (friendly) matches, with Mario Gomez heading wide just 16 seconds into the game.

The Chelsea midfielder Ballack broke the deadlock in the fourth minute with a stunning volley high into the net off Schweinsteiger's cross.

Just five minutes later SV Hamburg's Jansen doubled the lead on the rebound of Podolski's shot saved by Jehle.

The fans naturally hoped for plenty goals but the German game then lacked precision until the break, and the second half passed in identical fashion.

Schweinsteiger made sure of a third goal in the 48th when he hit the empty net after an initial shot from his Bayern Munich team-mate Podolski, who then found the net himself two minutes later.

Enke had to make only one save, in the 54th against Mario Frick, while up front most notably VfB Stuttgart forward Mario Gomez failed to score as his Germany drought now covers almost one year.

Germany next visit Wales, 2-0 losers against Finland Saturday, on Wednesday. The same day Liechtenstein host Russia.

"We did our job today, the next match will be tougher," said Ballack. (dpa)