Germany‘s Mario Goetze struck twice as the world champions beat rivals Poland 3-1 in an entertaining Euro 2016 qualifying en-counter last night to take over top spot in Group D and avenge last year’s defeat.

Thomas Mueller put the hosts in front after 12 minutes and Goetze added a second with a fine solo effort seven minutes later before a third Bayern Munich player, Poland captain Robert Lewan-dowski, cut the deficit with a diving header from Kamil Grosicki’s superb left-wing cross with the outside of his right foot.

Goetze, struggling for first team action in the Bundesliga over the past two seasons, sealed Germany’s win eight minutes from time on the rebound.

Both teams had plenty more chances in a flowing, attacking game but Germany, who had lost 2-0 in Warsaw last year, proved more efficient and took over at the top of Group D on 16 points from seven games, two ahead of Poland.

Robbie Keane took his international goals tally to 67 with a double to kill off battling Gibraltar on a night when the Republic of Ireland’s hopes of qualification received a significant boost.

The 35-year-old struck twice inside three second-half minutes to extend the first-half lead Derby full-back Cyrus Christie had given his side with his first goal for his country on his competitive debut and in the process, to kill off any hope of a shock.

Keane, who plundered a 13-minute hat-trick against the same opposition in October’s 7-0 win in Dublin, did not get the opportunity to repeat the feat when he was withdrawn with 20 minutes remaining as O’Neill cast an eye towards Monday night’s clash with Georgia at the Aviva Stadium, and it was his replacement Shane Long who completed a 4-0 win in Faro.

The victory, coupled with Scotland’s 1-0 defeat by the Georgians in Tbilisi earlier in the day, saw Ireland leapfrog Gordon Strachan’s side in the table and rekindled their hopes of clinching a play-off spot for next summer’s finals in France.

Serbia claimed their first win in Group I as they cruised to a 2-0 triumph over Armenia.

An own goal from Levon Hayrapetyan and a second-half strike from Adem Ljajic was enough to clinch the match, which was played behind closed doors, and put them level on points with the visitors.

Group D

Georgia 1
Kazaishvili 38;
Scotland 0

Germany 3
Mueller 12; Goetze 19, 82;
Poland 1
Lewandowski 37;

Gibraltar 0
Ireland 4
Christie 27; Keane 49; 51 pen; Long 79;

Group F

Faroe Islands 1
Edmundsson 36;
N. Ireland 3
McAuley 12, 71; Lafferty 75;

Red card: Edmundsson (FI) 65.

Greece 0
Finland 1
Pohjanpalo 75;

Hungary 0
Romania 0

Group I

Denmark 0
Albania 0

Serbia 2
Hayrapetyan 22og; Ljajic 54;
Armenia 0

Friendly

Portugal 0
France 1
Valbuena 85;

Playing today

Group C
Luxembourg vs Macedonia - 18.00
Ukraine vs Belarus - 18.00
Spain vs Slovakia - 20.45

Group E
Estonia vs Lithuania - 18.00
San Marino vs England - 18.00
Switzerland vs Slovenia - 20.45

Group G
Russia vs Sweden - 18.00
Austria vs Moldova - 20.45
Montenegro vs L’htenstein - 20.45