Germany returned to winning ways in Group D with a comfortable 4-0 victory over a stubborn Gibraltar side in Nuremberg.
Thomas Muller put Germany on course for all three points with two simple finishes from close range, before Mario Gotze extended the lead in the 38th minute after exchanging passes with Max Kruse inside the box.
The hosts added a fourth in the second half when Brian Perez inadvertently put the ball into his own net, but Gibraltar continued to battle impressively to prevent the world champions from pulling further ahead in the closing stages.
Read below to find out how Germany picked up their second win of the qualifying campaign.
Good evening everyone. The next round of Euro 2016 qualifying fixtures is underway, and tonight I'll be bringing you live text coverage of Gibraltar's trip to Nuremberg to take on world champions Germany in Group D. Will it be a routine win for Joachim Low's side?
Looking at the fixtures during this international break, if there was one result you would single out as a banker, it would be Germany to beat Gibraltar at home. Can Allen Bula's team do the impossible and claim anything tonight? It would surely go down as one of the biggest upsets in history if they avoid defeat.
As always, the pressure is on Germany to produce a dominant display in front of their own supporters. They start the night in third position, six points behind leaders Poland, who recorded a 4-0 victory over Georgia earlier this evening. Elsewhere in Group D tonight, Scotland host the Republic of Ireland.
GERMANY: Neuer, Mustafi, Boateng, Durm, Kroos, Khedira, Gotze, Bellarabi, Podolski, Muller, Kruse
Gibraltar: Robba, Wiseman J.Chipolina, Artell, R.Casciaro, R. Chipolina, L.Casciaro, Walker, Sergeant B.Perez, Garcia
Low has elected against leaving all of his big players out, but has decided to give a few fringe players the chance to shine this evening. Max Kruse is handed a start in attack, while Lukas Podolski will play on left wing for the hosts. Sami Khedira is back in midfield alongside Sami Khedira. Julian Draxler, Marco Reus and Bastian Schweinsteiger all missed out on this squad due to injury.
Not many people will recognise the names in the Gibraltar side. They know how tough tonight will be, but Bula will certainly have arrived with a strict game plan to frustrate the hosts. In truth, it's probably going to end in disappointment for the visitors, but they'll surely enjoy the occasion on what is probably the biggest night in the team's history.
PREDICTION: Kickoff is just over 10 minutes away now, so it's time to have a guess at what the score will be tonight. Just like everyone else, I can't see anything other than an emphatic Germany victory. The home supporters will arrive expecting plenty of goals, and they're likely to see just that. Germany to win 7-0.
Gibraltar's defence have struggled to adapt to life as a UEFA member. In their first three fixtures in Group D, the minnows have conceded 17 goals, while they are yet to score a goal of their own. Next up, the world champions.
The players are out on the pitch now and the national anthems have started. There's around 44,000 supporters inside the ground to see the world champions take on UEFA's newest member. Plenty of noise being made in the stands already.
Germany will get the gamed underway. Can Gibraltar frustrate the hosts for an extended spell in this match?
Quite incredible scenes as nine of Gibraltar's outfield players immediately retreat to the edge of their own box as Germany start the game. It's going to be a long night.
The visitors are happy to keep men behind the ball in the early stages, with only Kyle Casciaro applying any pressure on the ball further up the pitch. Germany in complete control already.
CHANCE! Germany miss their first chance of the night as Khedira finds Muller with a clever flick, only for the Bayern Munich forward to drag a shot wide from inside the box.
Lovely play from Gotze as he brings down a high ball before playing in Bellarabi, who wins a corner for the hosts. Jerome Boateng, whose unlikely to have much to do tonight, has been playing as an extra midfielder in the early stages.
Gibraltar manage to clear the corner, but Germany come right back through Kroos as the Real Madrid midfielder strikes the side-netting with a sliced effort.
Gibraltar briefly threaten to launch an attack when Casciaro collects the ball, but Mustafi quickly steps in to dispossess the forward. I'm sure the visitors will be delighted just to be on level terms at this stage.
SAVE! Gibraltar's defence fail to push out when a corner is taken short to Bellarabi, but Jamie Robba comes to his side's rescue by pushing away his powerful strike from the edge of the box.
Podolski becomes the latest player to try his luck for the hosts with a long-range shot which sails over the crossbar. A few of his teammates are a little frustrated with that decision, but the ball is soon back with Germany.
GOAL! GERMANY 1-0 GIBRALTAR (MULLER)
Muller breaks the deadlock in the 12th minute with a simple finish from close range after Mustafi's cross strikes the front post to fool Robba, who thought he was going to collect with ease. Germany are ahead. How many more goals will be scored?
Bellarabi has seen plenty of the ball early on, and he sets up a chance for Podolski with an excellent cross to the back post, where he Arsenal forward heads just over.
Casciaro does a very good job of holding up the ball to relieve the pressure on his team, but Boateng and Durm combine to win the ball back for the hosts. Moments later, Kroos picks up the ball on the edge of the box before seeing a deflected effort saved by Robba.
Gotze cuts in from the left wing to find Podolski, whose volley is deflected behind by one of his teammates. Even at this stage, Gibraltar are starting to look less organised at the back as Germany begin to find space between the visiting defence and midfield.
Not much noise coming from the home supporters in the past few minutes. In truth, they would have probably expected their side to have scored three or four goals by this stage. Gibraltar continue to battle impressively, but they simply cannot keep the ball.
SHOT! A couple of players decide to leave the ball when Kroos rolls the ball across the box. Boateng takes advantage to target the top corner with a curling effort which misses the post by just a few inches.
SAVE! Boateng, who has decided to join Khedira and Kroos in midfield, unleashes another powerful strike which forces Robba into a good low save. The hosts are being urged forward by the fans once again.
Germany keep the ball for around two minutes before Kroos finally takes a shot which hits a Gibraltar defender. The visitors could not be much deeper as they look to frustrate the hosts, who are agonisingly close from a second when Carlos Garcia miscues a clearance a yard wide of his post.
Fancy footwork on show from Bellarabi as he evades a couple of challenges before poking a deflected shot straight at Robba. It feels like a training session as Germany continue to probe away looking for a second goal.
GOAL! GERMANY 2-0 GIBRALTAR (MULLER)
Gotze starts an attack with a good pass out wide to Podolski, who delivers an inch-perfect cross to allow Muller to tap home from just a few yards out. Muller will feel there are a lot more goals out there for him tonight.
Some may have expected Bula's side to be further behind by now, but Germany haven't always made the right decision in the final third. Gibraltar will tire quickly, though, and the hosts may even feel that double figures is possible tonight.
The one man who might be slightly disappointed with his contribution so far is Kruse, who has seen very little of the ball in the first half. Given a rare start by Low, he probably would have been expected to make more of an impact by now.
It's not easy for Germany to pick the right pass due to the lack of space on offer. Gotze attempts to find Khedira with a chipped pass, but it's too strong for the Madrid midfielder. Gibraltar have had nine players in their own box at times in the first half.
CHANCE! Another corner is taken short to Durm, and he does well to pick out Boateng with the cross, but the Bayern defender can only head wide at the back post.
GOAL! GERMANY 3-0 GIBRALTAR (GOTZE)
Pick of the goals so far from Germany as Gotze exchanges passes with Kruse on the edge of the box, before beating the helpless Robba with a fine finish from inside the box. The Gibraltar resistance is broken again.
Gibraltar have the audacity to go on the front foot when Casciaro finds Perez, but Mustafi come across quickly to save Neuer the bother of getting involved in the match.
Germany are gifted a free kick when Wiseman, who played in the FA Cup on the weekend for Preston North End, brings down Khedira. Kroos fancies his chances from 25 yards, but his effort is a yard too high to worry Robba.
Gibraltar win a corner, and even the linesman can't resist smiling! Walker's delivery is slightly too strong for Artell and the hosts are able to clear the ball. That might be the closest Gibraltar come to scoring tonight.
SAVE! Forget that last update. Gibraltar almost reduce the deficit in stunning fashion! There doesn't seem to be any threat with the ball bouncing in front of Walker on the left wing, but he comes close to finding the top corner with a brilliant half-volley which Neuer somehow manages to push past the post. Even the home fans enjoyed that.
HALF TIME: GERMANY 3-0 GIBRALTAR
If it hadn't been for Neuer, Liam Walker would have stolen the show with that effort just before the interval, but the fact is that Germany are on course to record an emphatic victory thanks to Muller's brace and a goal from Gotze. Gibraltar will tire in the second half, so there is surely going to be a lot of goals scored after the break.
BENCH WATCH: It wouldn't be a surprise to see Low make some changes. The likes of Kevin Volland and Sebastian Rudy are on the bench, and both will probably be given some time on the pitch in the second half.
UPDATE: Scotland and the Republic of Ireland have failed to make a breakthrough in the first half in Glasgow. That's a better result for the Irish if the score stays the same, with Scotland needing the victory to remain level on points with Germany tonight.
The players are back out on the pitch for the second half. Gibraltar will get the game back underway. No changes from either manager yet.
Perez manages to dodge a couple of challenges on his way into the box, but a stumble at the crucial moment allows Neuer to come off his line to collect the ball.
Germany win a 12th corner of the evening, but Bellarabi's poor delivery takes the pressure of the visitors for a few moments. The way to more goals for the hosts is surely to get the ball out wide. There's just not enough room to operate on the edge of the box.
CLOSE! Another corner finds the head of Mustafi, and his effort is almost converted at the back post by Khedira, who is inches away from adding the finishing touch with a desperate lunge.
Casciaro's attempt to take the ball past Boateng ends in disappointment when Durm races back to help out his defensive teammate. Germany quickly launch an attack, which finishes with Kroos firing over the crossbar from the edge of the box.
Germany on top again, but they've been poor in the final third of the pitch so far in the second half. Bellarabi fails to pick out any of his teammates in a congested box as a poor delivery is easily collected by Robba at the near post.
Germany win a free kick when Joseph Chiploina handles on the edge of the box. Podolski wins the right to take the set piece, but his powerful low strike is blocked by the way. Kroos tries his luck again moments later with another shots which drifts over the crossbar.
SUBSTITUTION: Another cross, this time from a Kroos free kick, is cleared away by Artell. Gibraltar then make their first change when Sergeant comes off to make way for Yogan Santos, who usually plays in the centre of defence.
SUBSTITUTION: Kroos continues to struggle with his shooting as he fires over from the edge of the box. Low then uses his first change to replace Khedira with Hoffenheim forward Kevin Volland.
Durm does very well on the left wing to evade a couple of challenges before delivering a cross which is cleared only as far as Kruse, who slices a half volley over. It's not been a very good display in the second half from the hosts, who should be further ahead by now.
Clever footwork from Muller to earn space inside the box, but he is unable to find the top corner with a speculative chipped effort. Robba hasn't been asked to make a save in the second half. How much longer will the home fans have to wait for another goal?
Kroos appears to have forgotten how to hit the target. Muller displays great strength to hold the ball up before teeing up his teammate, whose low effort is a yard too wide to trouble Robba.
GOAL! GERMANY 4-0 GIBRALTAR (SANTOS O.G)
Germany finally have their fourth goal of the evening. Podolski times his run well to find space on the left, and it's his cross which causes problems for Santos, who inadvertently puts the ball into his own net while attempting to prevent Volland from adding the finishing touch.
SAVE! Much better from Kruse as he forces Robba into a good save with a powerful strike after being picked out inside the box by Muller.
SUBSTITUTION: Jonas Hector is off the bench to Germany to make his debut as a replacement for Durm. Gibraltar's Lee Casciaro, who has worked very hard in attack, also comes off to be replaced by his younger brother Kyle.
Hector is involved immediately as he gets forward on the left to deliver a cross which is intercepted by Robba before Kruse can reach the ball in the six-yard box. Gibraltar are starting to tire, but they're still battling admirably.
SAVE! A rare venture forward from the visitors sees the ball shifted to Walker, who hits the target for the second time this evening with a thunderous strike which forces Neuer into a comfortable save.
Germany's shooting from outside the box has been very, very poor tonight. The ball sits up perfectly for Podolski, but he can only send a half-volley sailing over the crossbar. Terrible effort from the Arsenal forward.
SUBSTITUTION: Low uses his final change of the evening to replace Kroos with Lars Bender for the final 11 minutes plus stoppage time.
Muller makes a good connection with a volley inside the box, but a deflection makes it into an easy save for Robba. If the score stays the same, I'm sure Gibraltar will be very happy with their performance.
Germany waste another promising move when Hector's pass leaves Volland with too much to do on the left wing. It's not been pretty tonight, but in truth, Germany can't really do much to impress anyone in a game such as this one.
Much better from Germany as they step up the tempo through Bender, who exchanges passes with Volland inside the box, before being beaten to the ball by the alert Robba. Good goalkeeping.
SHOT! Germany's poor run from distance goes one as Bender sends a wayward shot wide of the target from the edge of the box. Gibraltar's supporters are dancing in the stands. Their side are still competing impressively on the pitch.
A few whistles can be heard coming from the German supporters, who were probably expecting a better display from their side this evening. The fourth official confirms there will be three minutes added on.
SUBSTITUTION: Applause from German Gibraltar supporters as Perez comes off to be replaced by Adam Priestly for the final couple of minutes.
Germany continue to dominate possession in the final minute, but they waste another chance to set up a chance when Volland sees his cross blocked on the left wing.
FULL TIME: GERMANY 4-0 GIBRALTAR
It's all over in Nuremberg. Gibraltar have already conceded seven goals to both Poland and the Republic of Ireland in Group D, but they've managed to restrict the world champions to just four tonight. It wasn't always easy on the eye from Germany. Inevitably, they collect the three points in comfortable fashion, but Gibraltar will be very proud of their efforts.
That's all from our live coverage tonight. We hope you've enjoyed the latest set of Euro 2016 qualifiers this evening. Goodnight everyone.
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
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