Qualifiers

The draw for the qualifying phase of the 2018 FIFA World Cup was made in the Russian city of St. Petersburg on 25th July 2015, with Germany being placed in Group C – a six-team group along with the Czech Republic, Norway, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan and San Marino.

The Czechs are familiar opponents for the Nationalmannschaft, with the two teams last meeting in qualifying competition for Euro 2008 which saw Germany win 2-1 in Prague before going down 3-0 in what was a dead rubber at the Allianz Arena in München. In terms of the World Cup, this is Germany’s first meeting with what is now the Czech Republic – the qualifying stage for the 1986 tournament had seen Franz Beckenbauer’s team take on what was then Czechoslovakia, registering a 5-1 win in Prague before a 2-2 draw – at the Olympiastadion in München.

One has to go back more than sixty years to Germany’s last competitive international against Norway, who were in Mannschaft’s qualifying group for the 1954 tournament in Switzerland. Having been held to a 1-1 draw in Oslo, Sepp Herberger’s team would have a far easier time in the return in Hamburg, coasting to a 5-1 win en route to the their glorious final tournament campaign culminating in Der Wunder von Bern.

Northern Ireland by contrast have cropped up on a fairly regular basis as qualifying group opponents for the Mannschaft, with the first meetings taking place in the 1962 World Cup campaign which resulted in close German victories in Belfast and Berlin. The two teams would meet again in qualifying for the 1984 European Championships, where Jupp Derwall’s side would somehow manage to qualify for the finals despite being beaten 1-0 both home and away by a spirited Northern Irish side.

Germany were then drawn together in the same qualifying group as the Northern Irishmen for both the 1998 World Cup and 2000 Euros, with the Germans reestablishing their supremacy. Berti Vogts’ side were held to a surprise 1-1 draw in Nürnberg before winning 3-1 in Belfast, while the team coached by Erich Ribbeck would have a far easier time of things, winning 3-0 in Belfast before sweeping to a 4-0 win in Dortmund.

Azerbaijan have featured in recent qualifying campaigns for the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euros with Joachim Löw’s side racking up four wins from the four meetings with a goals tally of 15-2, including a 6-1 win in Köln in 2010. Minnows San Marino meanwhile would suffer at the hand of a rampant German side en route to the Euro 2008 finals, with the Mannschaft registering a record 13-0 away win in Serravalle in September 2006 before a slightly more sedate 6-0 win in Nürnberg.

v Norway, Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, 04.09.2016

3-0 (2-0)
Müller 15., 60. Kimmich 45. / –

Team: Neuer (c) – Kimmich, Hummels, Höwedes, Hector – Kroos, Khedira (84. Weigl) – Müller, Özil, Draxler (84. Meyer) – Götze (72. Brandt)

Goal info:

1-0 After a shot from Sami Khedira shot is blocked, Thomas Müller shows great persistence in fighting for the ball in the Norwegian penalty area after Mesut Özil picks him out. After being foiled by a red-shirted defender with his first attempt, Müller stretches with his left foot and sees his shot loop into the bottom right-hand corner off ‘keeper Rune Jarstein.

2-0 An Özil pass finds Müller just outside the Norwegian box, and der Raumdeuter’s perfectly timed ball is collected by the fast advancing Joshua Kimmich. The youngster strikes the ball firmly with his right foot from the edge of the box, and it curls past the outstretched hand of Jarstein before hitting the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

3-0 Kimmich makes his way to the byline before dropping the ball back for Khedira, and the the Juventus man’s perfectly-placed cross is headed firmly into the net by Müller from around twelve yards. Jarstein dives full length to his left, but Müller’s finish is inch perfect into the bottom right-hand corner.

v Czech Republic, Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, 08.10.2016

3-0 (1-0)
Müller 13., 65., Kroos 49. / –

Team: Neuer (c) – Kimmich, Boateng, Hummels, Hector (68. Höwedes) – Khedira, Kroos (76. Gündoğan) – Müller, Özil, Draxler (80. Brandt) – Götze

Goal info:

1-0 Germany break at pace down the left, and Mario Götze makes his way towards the Czech penalty area. His low cross into the box is well left by Mesut Özil, and Thomas Müller calmly strokes it home with his right foot. It takes the slightest of deflections, and there’s no chance for Czech ‘keeper Tomáš Vaclík.

2-0 Joshua Kimmich advances down the right, and takes his time to make space as the Czech defenders stand back. He rolls the ball inside towards the D, and finds Toni Kroos who sends a low, curling right-footed shot into the bottom of the net past the Vaclík’s outstretched left hand.

3-0 There’s some great movement from Özil and Jonas Hector down the left, and Hector drills in a low cross in towards the six-yard box. Müller accelerates towards the six-yard box, and gets in front of the Czech skipper Marek Suchý to sweep the ball with his left foot past the helpless Vaclík.

v Northern Ireland, HDI-Arena, Hannover, 11.10.2016

2-0 (2-0)
Draxler 13., Khedira 17. / –

Team: Neuer (c) – Kimmich, Boateng (69. Mustafi), Hummels, Hector (81. Volland) – Kroos, Khedira – Müller, Özil (46. Gündoğan), Draxler – Götze

Goal info:

1-0 The roving Thomas Müller is out at the left-hand side of the opposition penalty area, and shields the ball nicely before rolling it inside for Julian Draxler. Draxler makes room for himself before sending a low shot with his right foot into the bottom right-hand corner past the diving Michael McGovern. The ‘keeper gets a fingertip to the ball, but cannot keep it out.

2-0 Toni Kroos plays a short left-sided corner to Mesut Özil, who sends in an inviting outswinger into the box. Centre-back Mats Hummels is there first, beating his opponent in the air to head the ball back inside towards Sami Khedira at the far post. The tall Khedira easily beats defender Oliver Norwood, and calmly sends a looping header into the net.

v San Marino, Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle, 11.11.2016

8-0 (3-0)
Khedira 7., Gnabry 9., 58., 76., Hector 32., 65., Stefanelli og 82., Volland 85. / –

Team: ter Stegen – Kimmich, Hummels – Henrichs, Hector – Khedira (c) (77. Goretzka), Gündoğan – Müller, Götze (71. Volland), Gnabry – Gómez (71. Meyer)

Goal info:

1-0 İlkay Gündoğan dinks the ball over a crowd of blue shirts into the opposition box, and Sami Khedira smartly collects. The big number six shows lovely control as he dances past a defender and ‘keeper Aldo Simoncini before rolling the ball into the net with his left foot.

2-0 There’s complete pandemonium in the San Marino box, and the Mannschaft are two up. Mario Gómez’s shot is pushed out by Simoncini, and the keeper’s twin brother Davide makes a complete hash of things as he looks to complete the clearance. The ball falls to Serge Gnabry, who sends a smart right-footed effort into the bottom right-hand corner to score a nice debut goal.

3-0 Some lovely movement from the Germans, and Mario Götze unlocks the San Marino defence after collecting a neat pass from Gündoğan. The World Cup winner send the ball through for Jonas Hector, whose left foot finds the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

4-0 Joshua Kimmich lifts the ball over the San Marino defence, and Gnabry is there to sweep it into the net with his right foot. There is a slight whiff of offside, but there’s no flag from the referee’s assistant on the touchline.

5-0 Germany win a corner and take it quickly. Götze dances around in the box with the ball and draws Simoncini off his line, and the Dortmund man’s cutback from the byline finds Hector, who stabs it through the ‘keeper’s legs with the outside of his left foot.

6-0 Thomas Müller sends in another lovely ball over the top of the static San Marino defence, and Gnabry beats the offside trap as he strokes the ball into the bottom right-hand corner on the volley to complete a superb debut hat-trick.

7-0 Substitute Kevin Volland bursts down the right and sends in a low cross. Simoncini gets a hand on it, and the unfortunate Matthia Stefanelli is left helpless as he turns it into his own net.

8-0 Müller floats into the penalty area and cut the ball back neatly into space for Volland. The Leverkusen man is able to collect and get himself into position before sending a low left-footed shot past Simoncini to notch up his first international goal.

v Azerbaijan, Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, 26.03.2017

4-1 (3-1)
Schürrle 19., 80., Müller 35., Gómez 44. / Nazarov 30.

Team: Leno – Kimmich, Höwedes, Hummels, Hector – Kroos (89. Rudy), Khedira (c) – Müller, Draxler (84. Sané), Schürrle – Gómez (61. Özil)

Goal info:

1-0 Mats Hummels sends a low pass from inside his own half through to the advancing Sami Khedira, who in turn finds Julian Draxler. Draxler’s first time ball out to the left finds Jonas Hector, whose cross is perfectly delivered for André Schürrle who taps it in from just inside the six yard box. Azeri ‘keeper Kamran Agayev gets a hand to the ball, but is unable to prevent it from nestling in the back of the net.

1-1 Afran Ismayilov seizes on a poor pass from Hector and charges forward down the right. A high ball across the pitch finds Dimitri Nazarov at the edge of the penalty area, and with Khedira standing back the Erzgebirge Aue striker takes a step inside before sending the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the German net. Bernd Leno dives low to his left, but has no chance.

2-1 After dispossessing an opponent just inside the opposition half, Schürrle slips a perfectly-weighted pass for Thomas Müller to chase. The FC Bayern München man still has plenty of work to do, but controls the ball beautifully and floats around Agayev with ease before executing the perfect left-footed finish into the bottom right hand corner.

3-1 After a patient buildup, a well-timed ball from Benedikt Höwedes finds the advancing Kimmich on the right, and the youngster’s high floated cross from just inside the right touchline is superbly finished by Mario Gómez. Lurking at the edge of the six-yard box, Gómez positions himself perfectly to send a well-placed looping header into the far corner, and well beyond the reach of Agayev.

4-1 Toni Kroos and sub Mesut Özil initiate another patient buildup, and a great ball from Kroos finds the alert Hector to his left. The left-back sends a sharp low cutback into the box, where Schürrle is waiting by the penalty spot. The number nine has plenty of time to cushion the ball before smashing it into the roof of the net with his right foot.

v San Marino, Stadion Nürnberg, Nürnberg, 10.06.2017

7-0 (4-0)
Draxler 11., Wagner 16., 29., 85., Younes 38., Mustafi 47., Brandt 72. / –

Team: ter Stegen – Kimmich, Mustafi, Hector (55. Plattenhardt) – Can, Goretzka – Brandt, Draxler (c) (76. Demme), Younes – Stindl (55. Werner), Wagner

Goal info:

1-0 Lars Stindl sends a lovely pass into the San Marino box, and the men in blue look to have cleared the danger. They haven’t though, and the ball falls to Julian Draxler who is free inside the box some seven yards from goal. The skipper has enough time to calmly send a curling right-footed shot into the bottom right-hand corner past ‘keeper Elia Benedettini.

2-0 Joshua Kimmich finds space down the right, and sends in a teasing cross into the Sammarinese penalty area. Striker Sandro Wagner gets in front of defender Alessandro Delle Valle, and guides a superb header into the top right-hand corner to score his first international goal.

3-0 Germany win a free kick midway inside the opposition half, and Kimmich dinks the ball into the box. The San Marino defence are standing around like statues, and Amin Younes collects the pass before squaring it inside. The alert Wagner is there to finish it off, and takes a touch before stabbing it home from six yards with his right foot.

4-0 Julian Brandt and Stindl combine nicely down the right, and Germany win another corner. Benedettini gets a hand to Kimmich’s outswinger, but only succeeds in pushing the ball against a team mate. The San Marino defence are all over the place, and Younes taps it in from three yards to get off the mark in international football.

5-0 Germany win a corner out on the right, and Kimmich’s ball into the box creates more chaos for the visitors. Full-back Skhodran Mustafi shows plenty of physical presence to get a shot on goal, which takes the slightest of deflections to take it past Benedettini. The ‘keeper gets a hand to the ball, but cannot keep it out.

6-0 The home side are awarded another free-kick, and Kimmich’s floated ball into the opposition penalty area is superbly guided home by Brandt. The Leverkusen man’s header is perfectly placed, and once again Benedettini has no chance.

7-0 Germany attack at pace down the right, and it is Kimmich again with another killer cross. Wagner is there to meet it, and sends a neat glancing header past Benedettini to complete and excellent hat-trick in his first competitive international.

v Czech Republic, Eden Aréna, Praha, 01.09.2017

2-1 (1-0)
Werner 4., Hummels 88. / Darida 78.

Team: ter Stegen – Kimmich, Hummels, Ginter, Hector – Kroos, Stindl (67. Draxler) – Müller (c), Özil, Brandt (61. Rüdiger) – Werner (79. Can)

Goal info:

1-0 Lars Stindl has a half chance, but the Czechs clear. The men in white recycle the ball brilliantly. Mats Hummels sends a lovely pass through the middle to find Mesut Özil, who dinks a well-timed pass into space for Timo Werner. The young striker controls the ball superbly with an excellent first touch, and stabs it smartly through the legs of ‘keeper Tomáš Vaclík with his right foot.

1-1 The Czechs combine nicely on the left after winning a throw-in, and Vladimír Darida cut inside smartly. Finding enough space some twenty-five yards from goal, he unleashes a stunning right-footed shot that curls past ter Stegen and crashes into the top right-hand corner via the underside of the crossbar.

2-1 Germany are awarded a free-kick around thirty yards out, and both Toni Kroos and Özil stand over the ball. It is Kroos who takes the kick, lifting it over a crowd of red shirts and into the box. In what looks like the perfect execution of a training ground move, Hummels runs into the open space and directs a superb header into the top right-hand corner of the Czech net.

v Norway, Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart, 04.09.2017

6-0 (4-0)
Özil 10., Draxler 17., Werner 21., 40., Goretzka 50., Gómez 79. / –

Team: ter Stegen – Kimmich, Rüdiger, Hummels, Hector – Rudy (61. Khedira), Kroos – Müller (c) (46. Goretzka), Özil, Draxler – Werner (66. Gómez)

Goal info:

1-0 Toni Kroos finds Jonas Hector out on the left, and the 1. FC Köln left-back plays a smart cutback inside to Mesut Özil. From around twelve yards out, the Arsenal man bends a lovely left-footed shot into the top left-hand corner of the net past Norwegian ‘keeper Rune Jarstein.

2-0 Tight on the right touchline, Joshua Kimmich sends a lofted ball into the opposition box, which is nodded back by Timo Werner. Özil chests the ball down beautifully before tapping inside for Julian Draxler, who spins neatly into position before unleashing a curling left-footed shot that flies into the left hand side of the net. There’s no chance for Jarstein.

3-0 A careless pass from Jørgen Skjelvik is seized upon by Kroos. The ball is played inside for Thomas Müller, who smartly flicks the ball on for Werner who is lurking with deadly intent. All the striker has to do is stroke it home into the middle of the goal with his left foot

4-0 Werner initiates a move through the midfield before making his way into the box, leaving Kroos and Özil to pick out Müller on the right. The captain sends in a cross that bends wickedly into the penalty area, and Werner leaps brilliantly to direct a firm header to Jarstein’s right.

5-0 Kroos and Özil take a short corner, and create space for Draxler who turns his marker inside out. The cross is served up on a plate, and finished with aplomb by substitute Leon Goretzka with what is first touch of the game.

6-0 The passing is precise and patient, and everybody is getting involved. Antonio Rüdiger picks out substitute Sami Khedira just outside the penalty area, and the Juventus man smartly finds Kimmich on the right. The right-back sends in a teasing cross, and the third sub, Mario Gómez, flies in to execute the perfect diving header from just outside the six-yard box.

v Northern Ireland, Windsor Park, Belfast, 05.10.2017

3-1 (2-0)
Rudy 2., Wagner 21., Kimmich 87. / Magennis 90+3.

Team: ter Stegen – Kimmich, Boateng, Hummels, Plattenhardt – Rudy, Kroos – Müller (c) (83. Stindl), Goretzka (66. Can), Draxler (72. Sané) – Wagner

Goal info:

1-0 Joshua Kimmich makes a break down the right, and his cross is little too high for Sandro Wagner. The ball is cleared, but recovered by Kimmich who nudges it back to Sebastian Rudy. From close to twenty-five yards, the FC Bayern midfielder cracks a right-footed effort that flies away from and past ‘keeper Michael McGovern and into the top right-hand corner of the net via the inside of the post.

2-0 After some excellent approach play by Thomas Müller, Wagner striker twists brilliantly past his marker and creates a shooting chance on the edge of the box before sending a crisp left-footed shot past McGovern and into the top-left hand corner of the net.

3-0 Marvin Plattenhardt floats in a cross from the left, which is only half cleared. The unmarked Kimmich arrives to sweep it home on the volley from the right side of the six yard box with his right foot. The angle is tight, but the FC Bayern München right-back makes it look easy.

3-1 Gareth McAuley’s left sided corner is nodded back into the danger zone by Chris Brunt, and Josh Magennis gets in front of Mats Hummels to head home from close range past ‘keeper Marc-André ter Stegen.

v Azerbaijan, Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern, 08.10.2017

5-1 (1-1)
Goretzka 8., 64., Wagner 54., Rüdiger 66., Can 81. / Sheydaev 34.

Team: Leno – Kimmich, Süle (22. Rüdiger), Mustafi (36. Ginter) – Can, Goretzka – Brandt, Müller (c) (70. Younes), Sané – Stindl, Wagner

Goal info:

1-0 A corner is swung in from the right by Joshua Kimmich, taking the finest of flicks off the head of Niklas Süle before landing at the feet of Leon Goretzka who is just outside the six-yard box. Goretzka has his back to goal and doesn’t have the time to turn, but strikes the ball firmly into the ground with the back of his heel. Surprised and unable to react in time, goalkeeper Kamran Agayev is rooted to the spot.

1-1 Azerbaijan winger Ramil Sheydaev makes a break down the left, shifting past Shkodran Mustafi who pulls up suddenly before going down in a heap. Sheydaev then takes on substitute Antonio Rüdiger who delays him initially, but the Azerbaijani winger creates the space to get his shot in from the edge of the six-yard box, beating ‘keeper Bernd Leno at his near post from a tight angle.

2-1 Kimmich sets up another move forward, and there is an neat interchange between Thomas Müller and Lars Stindl before the ball is laid out to Brandt on the right. The cross comes in, and Sandro Wagner rises to meet it with his head. Agayev is beaten and a defender looks to head the ball clear, but it is deemed over the line by Hawkeye.

3-1 A Kimmich corner is sent in from the left, and Rüdiger gets above the Azerbaijani defence to meet it with a firm and well-directed downward header from just outside the six-yard box. The ball takes a nasty deflection off defender Badavi Hüseynov, and the helpless Agayev is well beaten.

4-1 A loose pass is by Cavid Hüseynov is intercepted by Brandt, who slips the ball forward to Sané who darts down the left before cutting it back into vacant space in the middle of the penalty area. Goretzka arrives to meet it, and calmly sends a crisp right-footed shot into the middle of the goal from seven yards. The ball skids past Agayev, who again can do nothing.

5-1 Matthias Ginter finds Emre Can in space close to thirty yards out, and the midfielder lets fly with his right foot. The ball curves and loops wickedly in flight, and fizzes past the leaping Agayev before crashing into the back of the net.

Final Group Standings

Team		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
	Germany (Q)	10	10	0	0	43	4	+39	30
	Northern Ireland (P)	10	6	1	3	17	6	+11	19
	Czech Republic	10	4	3	3	17	10	+7	15
	Norway	10	4	1	5	17	16	+1	13
	Azerbaijan	10	3	1	5	10	19	-9	10
	San Marino	10	0	0	10	2	51	-49	0

Other results: San Marino 0-1 Azerbaijan, Czech Republic 0-0 Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan 1-0 Norway, Northern Ireland 4-0 San Marino, Czech Republic 0-0 Azerbaijan, Norway 4-1 San Marino, Czech Republic 2-1 Norway, Northern Ireland 4-0 Azerbaijan, San Marino 0-6 Czech Republic, Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway, Azerbaijan 0-1 Northern Ireland, Norway 1-1 Czech Republic, Norway 2-0 Azerbaijan, San Marino 0-3 Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan 5-1 San Marino, Northern Ireland 2-0 Czech Republic, Azerbaijan 1-2 Czech Republic, San Marino 0-8 Norway, Czech Republic 5-0 San Marino, Norway 1-0 Northern Ireland.

Goals Summary: Müller, Wagner (5), Draxler, Gnabry, Goretzka, Werner (3), Gómez, Hector, Khedira, Kimmich, Schürrle (2), Brandt, Can, Hummels, Kroos, Mustafi, Özil, Rüdiger, Rudy, Volland, Younes, own goals (1). Total 43.