European Championship
Germany
Sep 4, 2015 7.45pm
3
1
HT : 2 1
FT
Poland
  • Thomas Muller 12' goal
  • Mario Gotze 19' goal
  • Toni Kroos 61' yellowcard
  • Bastian Schweinsteiger 79' yellowcard
  • Mario Gotze 82' goal
  • yellowcard Maciej Rybus 8'
  • goal Robert Lewandowski 36'
  • yellowcard Kamil Grosicki 66'

Live Commentary: Germany 3-1 Poland - as it happened

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Germany 3-1 Poland - as it happened
© Getty Images

Germany beat Poland 3-1 in a Euro 2016 qualifying match this evening.

Mario Gotze scored twice after Thomas Muller gave Germany an early lead.

Poland nearly found themselves back in the game before half time. First, Robert Lewandowski netted with a diving header before Manuel Neuer pulled off a reaction save to deny the in-form striker a second.

The win sees Germany leapfrog Poland into top spot of Group D.

Relive Sports Mole's live commentary below.

9.40pmWell, a good evening's entertainment supplied by both team's tonight. Poland certainly played their part but Germany were really polished at times. Thanks for joining me tonight for this one. Come back tomorrow for San Marino vs. England and more.

9.36pmA polished performance from Germany to claim top spot in Group D. They now sit four points clear of third place Republic of Ireland. Surely there passage to Euro 2016 is now secured.

90+3 minFULL TIME: Germany 3-1 Poland

90+2 minSHOT! Krychowiak hammers a shot from distance but Neuer is behind it all the way and gathers

90+1 minThere will be three minutes of added-on time.

90+1 minSUBSTITUTION: Gotze makes way with a standing ovation from the German faithful. Podolski comes on to play against his country of his birth.

90 minHector has impressed at left back. He wins a corner after cutting into the area.

88 minGermany are heading towards their fourth qualifying win in a row. In that time, they've conceded just once to Lewandowski tonight.

85 minGermany now just continuing to dominate possession. They really are just toying with the Poles now.

81 minWith a two-goal cushion reestablished that should certainly ensure Germany move top of Group D tonight. Gotze has been different class tonight - this one was a simple finish for him, but his instinctive positioning is what all strikers dream of.

81 minGame, set and match! Muller's shot from 20 yards is parried by Fabianski and Gotze is sniffing around in the box to finish secure the three points.

81 minGOAL: Germany 3-1 Poland (Gotze)

78 minIt's dangerous but floats six inches over the head of Lewandowski. That's a shame for Poland.

78 minPoland could get back in it here with a free kick in a dangerous position. Milik to take...

75 minGermany has had all of the possession in the last 10 minutes, but we saw in the first half that Poland have enough to bounce back from that. 15 minutes to go, can Poland get the equaliser?

71 minCHANCE! Just seconds later, Hummels nearly heads the ball into the bottom left corner. He rises highest from a cross but Fabianski pulls off a great save to get down to that corner in time.

70 minCHANCE! A great chance for Ozil but his shot doesn't have enough power on it. Fabianski parries it away and Poland eventually clear.

67 minSHOT! Grosicki's pace causes problems but his shot is straight at Neuer. Boateng just about did enough to put him off there.

65 minCHANCE! Kroos's corner is played in low and Can cleverly leaves the ball for Schweinsteiger, but the Manchester United man sends it high and wide from seven yards.

63 minSUBSTITUTION: Maczynski is replaced by Blaszczykowski. The Dortmund winger has been out injured but is certainly more of an attacking threat than the man he's replaced.

62 minPoland's second corner of the net is floated in by Grosicki, but Hector clears it for a throw in.

60 minCHANCE! What a chance for Grosicki! Maczynski has the initial strike which Neuer parries straight into the body of Grosicki and the ball bounces narrowly wide.

58 minThe match is back to full pace now. Gundogan's introduction has taken Germany up a gear once again. His breaks from the midfield are causing all sorts of problems.

56 minPOST! Gotze breaks free of the Poland defence and lifts the ball past the onrushing Fabianski, but it rebounds off the right post.

55 minCHANCE! Gundogan shows off his silky footwork but is finally stopped by Krychowiak with a great tackle in the six-yard box.

53 minRepublic of Ireland have scored two quick goals and now lead Gibraltar 3-0. Follow the last half hour of that one here.

51 minSUBSTITUTION: Bellarabi comes off and is replaced by Ilkay Gundogan. He's been really impressive tonight.

49 minA tentative start to the second half from both teams. Lewandowski has half a chance but fails to connect well with a half volley.

46 minNo changes for either team at the start of the second half. Germany certainly need to be careful. Those two Lewandowski chances really did fire a warning shot at the end of the first half.

45 minKICKOFF! Germany start the second half.

8.45pm

8.42pmIn Group D's other match, Ireland have bumbled along to a 1-0 half-time lead over Gibralter. That means they'll move above Scotland into third, while Germany would leapfrog Poland into first.

8.41pmIt certainly did fly by.

8.38pmGermany certainly deserve the lead. At times they were playing as world champions should.

8.33pmWhat a superb 45 minutes of football! Germany eased into a 2-0 lead thanks to two great goals. At that point it seemed that Germany would romp to victory, but Lewandowski's goal has given Poland a new lease of life.

45+1 minHALF TIME: Germany 2-1 Poland

45+1 minCHANCE! Lewandowski's header is cleared off the line! The corner comes in but it's Jonas Hector standing at the back post to deny the striker his second.

45 minSAVE! What a save by Neuer! The goalkeeper's kick out is immediately played back up to Lewandowski whose shot from the edge of the area is somehow kept out by Neuer.

44 minPoland have certainly found a way back into the game since Lewandowski pulled one back. Grosicki, now partnering him up front, is looking dangerous.

42 minSUBSTITUTION: Piszczek is replaced by Olkowski. The right back was exploited in the first half and limps off.

38 minIt was looking like Germany was going to run away with this one, but Lewandowski has brought Poland right back into the match. Poland immediately go on the attack again but it's dealt with.

35 minLewandowski gets one back! Emre Can is caught out of position and Grosicki plays a perfect cross to Lewandowski who finishes with a diving header.

35 minGOAL! Germany 2-1 Poland (Lewandowski)

34 minCHANCE! Germany are mesmerizing to watch as a neat passing move ends with Muller beating the offside trap. His shot is stopped by Fabianski when one-on-one and Hector's rebound shot is blocked.

31 minDISALLOWED GOAL! Mesut Ozil has the ball in the back of the net but it's disallowed as Gotze, who played the pass, was deemed offside in the build up.

28 minThere's been a goal in the other Group D match as Cyrus Christie puts Republic of Ireland into the lead. Follow the live commentary of that one here.

27 minThe match has calmed down slightly in the last few minutes. Germany are still having the better of it, but the tempo's slowed down.

23 minGermany continue to attack and Bellarabi is really impressive on the left wing so far. He wins the team another corner but the delivery from Kroos is dealt with.

20 minIt was all a bit too easy for Gotze there to be fair, but he made absolutely no mistake there. Germany are at their best so far tonight.

19 minWhat a finish from Gotze! Cutting in from the left he goes past Glik and fires past Fabianski from the edge of the area. Germany are flying!

18 minGOAL! Germany 2-0 Poland (Gotze)

16 minCHANCE! Grosicki tests Neuer from 20 yards but the stopper makes the save down low.

14 minPoland trying to reply here, and Can is looking susceptible on his debut. Lewandowski attacks down the left but it's eventually cleared.

11 minWhat a start to this match we've had! Hector combines well with Gotze down the left wing, and the diminutive forward cuts it back to Muller who has the simplest of tasks to place the ball into an empty net from seven yards. Superb team goal from the Germans!

11 minGOAL! Germany 1-0 Poland (Muller)

10 minGotze now leads the attack, and a dangerous ball into the box is only half cleared to Muller. He shoots along the ground though.

8 minSHOT! It's shaping up to be a really good match tonight, and Bellarabi's involved in everything. This time, he can't quite get his footing right and his shot goes harmlessly wide.

6 minPoland go on the attack, and Maczynski causes problems for Can. His low cross is cleared by Hummels though.

5 minCHANCE! A deep ball is knocked down by Hector for Bellarabi, and his shot is deflected narrowly wide of the post.

3 minKroos takes it and Muller rises highest, but the ball goes well over the bar.

3 minGermany win the first corner of the evening after Bellarabi drives down the left wing...

2 minPoland are playing some good football in the opening stages. It looks like they're prepared to attack tonight.

1 minKICKOFF! Poland start the match and launch it immediately long to Lewandowski.

7.42pmWith the Republic of Ireland playing Gibraltar at the same time, Group D could look very different at the end of the evening than it did before the Scotland match kicked off. Follow that match here.

7.39pmPREDICTION: The teams are just coming out at the Commerzbank Arena, so it's time for my prediction. I still think Germany will win tonight. 2-1 with goals from Gotze and Schweinsteiger, Lewandowski to net for Poland.

7.34pmAnother route for success for Poland could be by attacking the German full backs. Emre Can and Jonas Hector are both good players, but are new to the international scene following Philipp Lahm's retirement.

7.28pmHEAD TO HEAD: I mentioned Poland's win against Germany last year, and the Germans have certainly found them hard to beat of late. In the last three matches, they've taken just two points.

7.26pmAccording to Joachim Loew, England have funded Germany's rise to world domination. Here's what he said before the match: "Premier League clubs are now paying three times what they used to but the good thing is that money is being ploughed back into the Bundesliga. That helps make the German national team stronger because in the last few years £100m has been put back into youth development. If used sensibly and done the right way then that will work wonders for German football. "That money has been used to make the standard of young players better. It makes sense to raise your own young players and give them an opportunity. The English will have face up to that their young players don't get the minutes for their clubs.That is why the English national team hasn't set the world alight in major championships, have they?"

7.22pmFor Germany, take your pick as to who the key player is. For me, Mario Gotze's performance up-front on his own will be crucial for Germany. When you're as skilful as him you don't need a big man to partner you.
© Getty Images

7.18pmThat Poland attack could signal danger for Germany too. Lewandowski is on over a goal per game in this qualifying campaign but we all know how solid Boateng and Hummels are at the back for the Germans.

7.17pmGermany certainly haven't been invincible since becoming world champions last summer. Losses to Argentina and USA have accompanied the Poland loss.

7.11pmThe last time the team's met Poland beat Germany - that was the first victory they ever had over their neighbours, and the first competitive Germany defeat since winning the World Cup. Arkadiusz Milik scored that night and starts tonight and is partnered up front by Robert Lewandowski. The Bayern Munich man has scored seven in the qualifying campaign so far.

7.07pmGERMANY SUBS: Mustafi, Rudy, Ginter, Schurrle, Podolski, Zieler, Volland, Kramer, Gundogan, ter Stegen, Kruse POLAND SUBS: Szczesny, Cionek, Jedrzejczyk, Linetty, Boruc, Olkowski, Blaszczykowski, Peszko, Mila, Zielinski, Wilczek, Borysiuk

7.04pmPOLAND XI: Fabianski; Piszczek, Szukula, Glik, Rybus; Maczynski, Jodlowiec, Krychowiak, Grosicki; Lewandowski, Milik

7.01pmIn the meantime though, the Scotland game is over. 1-0 to Georgia. I'm Scottish, that's horrible. Don't mind me, I'll just be weeping reading the match report here.

6.59pmSo, the big news coming out of Germany's lineup tonight is that a debut has been handed to Liverpool's Emre Can. After 13 caps at Under-21 level and impressive form in the Premier League he gets his chance tonight. Poland team news for you as soon as I get it.

6.55pmOnto some team news then: GERMANY XI: Neuer; Hector, Hummels, Boateng, Can; Kroos, Schweinsteiger; Bellarabi, Ozil, Muller; Gotze

6.52pmWith two automatic qualifying places available, both Germany and Poland will be confident of bypassing the playoffs and booking their place in Euro 2016. A win tonight would certainly make it very unlikely that they would miss out on qualification.

6.50pmGroup rivals Scotland, who were in third place before this evening, are just minutes away from being dealt a massive blow to their qualification though. They're a goal behind Georgia - follow the last few moments here.

6.49pmGroup D was many people's 'group of death' before the qualifying campaign kicked off, and it hasn't disappointed so far, with four teams still in with a chance of qualification.

6.45pmWelcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Euro 2016 qualifying match between Germany and Poland. The history between these two teams always makes for a tasty encounter - and with the teams just a point apart in Group D that will be accentuated even further tonight.
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