Germany secured the emphatic win they needed against Luxembourg tonight to remain very much in the hunt for automatic qualification for the World Cup.
Julian Nagelsmann’s men suffered a miserable start to their Group A campaign with a 2-0 defeat in Slovakia but a direct route to the United States, Canada and Mexico is now back in their own hands after the most routine of victories.
Luxembourg were 1-0 down even before Dirk Carlson was sent off in the 21st minute. From there on in they were lambs to the slaughter as Germany pulled them apart in Sinsheim.
Joshua Kimmich scored twice, adding to goals from David Raum and the impressive Serge Gnabry as the hosts won at a canter.
Germany top the pool on goal difference from Northern Ireland, who beat Slovakia 2-0 in Belfast tonight. All three teams have six points. Germany face Northern Ireland in another crunch game on Monday.
Woltemade woe as goal chalked off
Germany thought they had gone ahead inside four minutes but the VAR ruled Nick Woltemade had turned home Gnabry’s shot with his arm. Indeed, if there was a negative for Germany it was that Newcastle striker Woltemade’s wait for a first senior goal extended to a fifth game before he was hauled off on the hour mark.
He will never have a better opportunity against a Luxembourg defence that creaked every time the home side came forward.
And the breakthrough finally came after 12 minutes.
Christopher Martins fouled Gnabry 20 yards out and Raum fired the free-kick through the wall and into the bottom corner.
It was 2-0 nine minutes later. Florian Wirtz lifted the ball over the Luxembourg defence and Gnabry appeared to have got the wrong side of Carlson only for the defender to stick out an arm, putting the forward off his stride as he attempted to shoot.
Referee Nenad Minakovic was instructed to take a look by VAR and the decision was a penalty and a red card for the unfortunate Carlson. Kimmich made no mistake from the spot, rolling it calmly into the net after sending Anthony Moris the wrong way.
Damage limitation for the visitors
Luxembourg fell into an even lower block with damage limitation now the only aim.
Gnabry shot inches wide, Moris produced a fine save to deny Leon Goretzka and the Luxembourg stopper denied Kimmich just before the break.
The visitors had done well to reach half-time without conceding again but two goals in five minutes after the restart undid much of their good work.
Gnabry made it 3-0 after capitalising on some poor defending and it was four when Kimmich was the first to react to slot home after a corner had bobbled around the Luxembourg six-yard box.
With the game won, Germany eased off and coasted through to the final whistle, despite Wirtz’s unstinting attempts to create more opportunities.
