KAISERSLAUTERN - Germany crushed Azerbaijan 5-1 on Sunday with talented Leon Goretzka scoring twice, to complete a record-equalling World Cup qualifying campaign with ten wins out of ten matches.
Germany, who had already secured qualification for next year's finals in Russia, needed an hour to hit their stride despite an early lead through the 22-year-old Goretzka, already a target for several top European clubs.
They made sure of the three points and a maximum 30 in Group C with a strong second-half performance, scoring four more goals after an unexpected Azeri equaliser.
The Germans equalled Spain's record from the 2008-9 qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup with their 10th victory but they could boast an even better goal difference than the Spaniards.
Joachim Loew's world champions dominated their group to such an extent that they scored 43 goals -- on average, more than four per game -- while conceding just four.
In contrast, Vicente del Bosque's Spanish charges of 2008-9, who went on to win the World Cup in South Africa, scored 28 and conceded five.
"Overall it would be a mistake to take this qualification as the standard. We did it well, great, 10 wins, best goal difference," Loew said.
"But at the World Cup next year it will be a completely different calibre of teams and we should stay grounded."
Germany, with seven changes to the lineup after the 3-1 win in Belfast against Northern Ireland that secured their qualification, went ahead through Goretzka's superb and powerful eighth-minute backheel.
After that, the new-look side struggled for a long period to find any rhythm.
"It was difficult at the start. We had not played with such a lineup before," Loew said. "The young players need some time to find their footing in a game."
Sandro Wagner should have doubled the lead on the half-hour mark but his casual effort was palmed onto the post by the keeper.
Instead it was the hosts who scored, briefly stunning the home crowd, when Ramil Sheidaev fired in from a tight angle to complete a quick break in the 34th minute.
Loew's initial plans to use the game as a first test en route to their title defence went out the window with first-half injuries to defenders Niklas Suele and Shkodran Mustafi.
Mustafi could be out for some time with a suspected right thigh muscle tear, Loew said.
Yet his team quickly finished off the game with Wagner grabbing his fifth goal in his fifth international in the 54th minute and Antonio Ruediger scoring 10 minutes later.
The 22-year-old Goretzka then slipped into the box to tap in his second goal of the evening in the 66th minute as the Azeri defence collapsed before Emre Can capped the rout with a thundering 25-metre strike nine minutes from time.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Ian Chadband)
source: news.abs-cbn.com
MADRID - Two brilliant strikes from Isco and a late goal from Alvaro Morata gave Spain a spectacular 3-0 win over Italy, their nearest challengers in Group G, to move into the driving seat for automatic qualification to the 2018 World Cup.
Real Madrid attacking midfielder Isco, who was deployed in a "false nine" position as a deep-lying striker, curled a free kick beyond the reach of veteran Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to put Spain ahead in the 13th minute.
Isco then received the ball on the edge of the area and danced past a defender before cracking a low shot into the near bottom corner which again proved too quick for Buffon five minutes before halftime.
Substitute Morata crafted a superb counter-attack with Sergio Ramos to start and finish the move for the third goal which he slotted past former Juventus team mate Buffon 13 minutes from time, rounding off Spain's best performance against Italy since their 4-0 win in the Euro 2012 final.
"I'm very satisfied with the players' response since I've been here, their mentality and commitment is excellent. Perfection doesn't exist, but we played a great game tonight," Spain coach Julen Lopetegui told reporters.
"You can always improve but it's hard to ask how today. We understood the importance of the game, and we have to thank the fans for how they created an atmosphere like the ones we've seen in Paris and Wembley. We felt their presence."
Spain top Group G on 19 points, three ahead of Italy and seven clear of Albania, who beat basement side Liechtenstein 2-0 on Saturday while Macedonia pulled off a surprise 1-0 victory at Israel.
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The continued absence of top scorer Diego Costa and the explosive form of Marco Asensio compelled Lopetegui to imitate his predecessor Vicente del Bosque and play without a recognised striker, a move which paid off to perfection.
Italy, shorn of influential defender Giorgio Chiellini and fielding four forwards which left little presence in midfield, lacked the intensity needed to counter Spain’s passing machine.
Isco may have given Spain their firepower but they created chances from all areas, with Dani Carvajal, Gerard Pique and Ramos all not far from scoring in the first half, while Italy’s only effort was a header from Andrea Belotti which David de Gea saved.
"Today there was a huge difference between the two teams' level of quality and fitness, and when you consider those differences there's no point talking about the result," said Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura.
The coach would not criticise his captain Buffon for his slow reaction to Isco's free-kick, and said Spain were a far more experienced side than his.
"Many of Spain's players have played in three Champions League finals, there's hardly anyone in our team on that level."
Isco further delighted the 85,000 supporters in his home stadium with an outrageous nutmeg through the legs of Marco Verratti in the second half which nearly lead to Carvajal scoring.
The third goal came from ever reliable substitute Morata, who was denied a second late on by the offside flag.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
source: news.abs-cbn.com
