The German national football team has secured the first place in Group C in the last match of the European Championship qualifiers. Against Northern Ireland, the DFB team won 6: 1 (2: 1). Michael Smith (7th minute) put the visitors ahead, but Serge Gnabry's hat-trick (19./47./60.) Leon Goretzka scored twice (43./73.) And Julian Brandt (90. + 1 ) turned the game. Due to the German victory, the pursuers from the Netherlands had no chance for first place despite their 5-0 victory against Estonia in parallel matches.
The fact that Germany will be sure of the European Championship next year, had already been determined after the 4-0 victory against Belarus last Saturday. On the last match day, the Dutch were only in first place in the long-distance duel with the Netherlands. This has influence on the allocation to a lot pot in the draw of the EM groups. Northern Ireland is in third place, but still has the chance of the EM participation in the playoffs of the Nations League.
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Germany vs. Germany Northern Ireland: conciliatory qualifying finalCompared to the match against Belarus coach Joachim Loew put his team on six positions. Among other things, Marc-André ter Stegen was in place of Manuel Neuer in the center, in central defense of the nominal defensive midfielder Emre Can ran alongside Jonathan Tah.
Northern Ireland takes the lead after Kroos' mistake
Northern Ireland took the lead early. After a throw-in Toni Kroos cleared the ball with a header in front of the box, Smith hit with a long-range shot to 1: 0 (7). Only two minutes later Germany came to two great chances. Only Gnabry failed in the one-on-one against the outraged goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell (10), shortly thereafter met Ilkay Gündogan with a header only the post (11).
After the early leadership Northern Ireland was deep, Germany came again and again to dangerous attacks. After a low cross from Jonas Hector Gnabry took the ball with his back to the goal and hit the turn to 1-1 (19.). Even before the break, the DFB team managed the lead. Again, Hector played the ball flat into the box, on the five-line Goretzka slipped into the pass and pressed the ball to the inside post and into the goal (43.).
The 3: 1 played the DFB team after the break on the right side: Lukas Klostermann put in the penalty area back to Gnabry and hit the left corner (47.). A little later, the striker made his hat-trick perfect: Julian Brandt played a key pass into the penalty area, Gnabry stubbornly prevailed against defender Tom Flanagan and hit right into the gate to 4: 1 (60). Goretzka met again. The Northern Irish defense could not clear a ball in front of the penalty area, so scored the Bayern professional from 17 meters, the fifth German goal (73). The final point Brandt set after a counterattack with the 6: 1 (90 + 1).
Germany - Northern Ireland 6: 1 (2: 1)
0: 1 Smith (7th)
1: 1 Gnabry (19th)
2: 1 Goretzka (43)
3: 1 Gnabry (47.)
4: 1 Gnabry (60.)
5: 1 Goretzka (73.)
6: 1 Brandt (90th + 1)
Germany: Ter Stegen - Klostermann (65th Stark), Tah, Can, Hector - Kimmich, Kroos, Goretzka (73rd Serdar), Gundogan, Brandt - Gnabry (80th Amiri)
Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell - Smith, Cathcart, Flanagan, Ferguson - St. Davis, McNair (77th Boyce), Evans (65th McLaughlin), Thompson, Saville - Magennis (83rd Lavery)
Referee: Del Cerro Grande (Spain)
Yellow cards: none
Spectators: 40,000