Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski scored the decisive goal on 57 minutes but Ireland will feel hard done by as the free-kick took a cruel deflection off captain Robbie Keane.

Group favourites Germany will not care one iota as they head into Wednesday's qualifier at San Marino with three points on the board.

"We analyzed Ireland and when you see that they have players at big clubs such as Tottenham, Liverpool, Newcastle, you know they are a good team," Low said.

"We were slow at the start but we had two or three good chances in the first half and we upped the tempo in the hope that a goal would come.

"The goal came, somewhat fortuituously, but we are delighted to get the three points. We now want to make that six with a win over San Marino."

For Ireland coach Steve Staunton, who like Low was making his competitive debut, it was a disappointing beginning but he has time to get things right as their next qualifier is against Cyprus on October 7.

"The players are as sick as parrots because they knew they should have got something out of this game. I feel the same," said Staunton.

A spate of injuries forced Low, who succeeded Jurgen Klinsmann after the World Cup, to field Arne Friedrich and Manuel Friedrich in a makeshift central defensive pairing.

Ireland coach Staunton welcomed back Newcastle United winger Damien Duff, star striker Keane and goalkeeper Shay Given, who all missed the 4-0 friendly drubbing by the Netherlands last time out.

Tottenham Hotspur forward Keane scored a last-gasp equalizer in a 1-1 draw the last time the two teams met at the 2002 World Cup group stage and almost scored here after 90 seconds, heading Duff's cross marginally wide of the post.

Ireland had failed to sample the World Cup atmosphere in Germany this summer but were thriving on the carnival atmosphere in Stuttgart.

Hosts Germany, who beat Portugal 3-1 at this venue to finish third at the World Cup, failed to carve the visitors open until the 28th minute.

World Cup Golden Boot winner Miroslav Klose looked destined to score but Given pulled off a great low save to turn his header behind for a corner.

Sixty seconds later Podolski stung the palms of Given again with a fierce left-footed drive.

Given thwarted Werder Bremen forward Klose again at the start of the second half this time using his legs.

But the Newcastle custodian could do nothing about the German goal, with Podolski's free-kick taking a freak deflection off the enthusiastic Keane to wrong foot the goalkeeper.

"There were a few decisions that did not go our way tonight but you can't do anything about it," said Staunton.

"If you look at the goal, the ball was going wide and then it took a cruel deflection. That summed it up.

"However the lads did the jersey proud tonight and for the supporters that were here and those who could not make it, that is what it's all about."

Klose rattled the crossbar shortly after with a header as Germany pushed for a second.

Staunton, who won a record 102 caps for his country, was then warned about his conduct by UEFA officials and later banished from the dug-out as he voiced his annoyance at some of the decisions by Spanish referee Luis Cantalejo.

Keane then had the ball in the net in the 70th minute for an apparent equalizer but the effort was ruled out for offside, to sum up Staunton's miserable evening.