Half-Time Report: Mario Gotze stars as Germany lead against Poland

Mario Gotze has scored one goal and set up another to put Germany ahead in their Euro 2016 qualifier against Group D leaders Poland.

The world champions nearly took the lead in the opening minutes when FC Koln defender Jonas Hector found Karim Bellarabi, but the Bayer Leverkusen attacker's deflected shot drifted narrowly wide of Lukasz Fabianski's goal.

However Joachim Low's side soon edged in front after Hector and Gotze combined well on the flank before the Bayern Munich attacker teed up Thomas Muller to score from close range.

On 18 minutes, the hosts doubled their advantage as Gotze came in from the left wing, beating Kamil Glik, before firing a fierce shot beyond the reach of Fabianski.

Gotze looked to have set up a third goal for Mezut Ozil, who slotted home on the half-hour mark, but saw his effort disallowed as Gotze had crossed from an offside position.

Instead, Poland pulled a goal back 10 minutes before half time as Emre Can, on his senior debut for Germany, was caught out of position and allowed Kamil Grosicki to tee up Robert Lewandowski, whose diving header beat Bayern teammate Manuel Neuer.

Lewandowski almost netted an equalised on the stroke of half time, but his effort was cleared off the line by Hector.