World Cup winners Germany sauntered past minnows Gibraltar 4-0 in their Euro 2016 qualifier yesterday to bounce back from a rocky start to the campaign as they prepare for their friendly against European champions Spain next week.
Thomas Mueller struck twice before Mario Goetze added another in the first half with Yogan Santos adding an own goal in a low-key second half with the Germans easing off.
The win lifted Germany to seven points from four games, three behind Group D leaders Poland.
The hosts, who never needed to hit top form against European football’s newcomers, wanted to show their trademark attacking game after losing to Poland and drawing against Ireland in their last two qualifiers in October.
Poland maintained their unbeaten run by demolishing Georgia 4-0 away with defender Kamil Glik the unlikely hero.
Poland lost 3-0 in Georgia 17 years ago in a World Cup qualifier, their only previous game in Tbilisi, and they took revenge in clinical style.
Six minutes after the break, Torino’s Glik grabbed the opener with a header from close range and in the 71st minute, he turned provider for Grzegorz Krychowiak’s first international goal.
Soon afterwards Sebastian Mila netted superbly from outside the box and Arkadiusz Milik finished the scoring with an easy goal in injury time.
The Georgians had huge problems before the match with head coach Temuri Ketsbaia’s conflict with local media finally leading to the manager’s announcement on Thursday that he will quit his job after five years following the game.
Shaun Maloney’s moment of sublime skill gave Scotland their first home victory over Ireland in 53 years as they beat their neighbours 1-0.
Maloney struck in the 75th minute curling the ball past David Forde following a well-worked corner to break the deadlock in a game played at a breakneck pace, oozing passion and endless physical challenges.
Ireland introduced Robbie Keane from the bench three minutes after the goal but the top scorer in Euro qualifying history could not find a way through the Scottish defenders, who repelled a frenetic series of Irish attacks to hold on for victory.
Denmark eased the pressure on coach Morten Olsen with a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over Serbia in Group I.
A draw against Albania and defeat against Portugal had raised questions about the side’s performances, and the absence of Lasse Schone and captain Daniel Agger through injury only increased Olsen’s problems going into a tricky away trip.
When Serbia, making their first appearance since their last qualifier against Albania ended in abandonment and chaotic scenes, took a fourth-minute lead through Zoran Tosic, those problems intensified.
But Denmark made a determined response and two goals in the space of three minutes flipped the game on its head as Nicklas Bendtner levelled and Simon Kjaer headed them in front in the 63rd minute.
Bendtner then wrapped things up with a third goal with five minutes remaining.
Faroes stun Greece
Greece’s chances of reaching Euro 2016 are diminishing fast as their dreadful start to qualifying continued yesterday with a shock 1-0 home defeat by Group F minnows Faroe Islands, which leaves them bottom of the standings.
Greece again looked barely recognisable to the team that reached the last 16 of the 2014 World Cup as they struggled to create chances and were embarrassingly beaten by Joan Edmundsson’s strike just after the hour mark.
Group D
Georgia 0
Poland 4
Glik 51, Krychowiak 71, Mila 74, Milik 90;
Germany 4
Mueller 12, 29, Goetze 38, Santos 67 og;
Gibraltar 0
Scotland 1
Maloney 75;
Ireland 0
Group F
Greece 0
Faroe Islands 1
Edmundsson 61;
Hungary 1
Gera 84;
Finland 0
Romania 2
Papp 75, 79
N. Ireland 0
Group I
Portugal 1
Ronaldo 72;
Armenia 0
Serbia 1
Tosic 4;
Denmark 3
Bendtner 60, 85, Kjaer 63;
Friendly match
France 1
Griezmann 73;
Albania 1
Mavraj 40;