Germany played Kazakhstan for the second time in five days, this time in Nuremberg, as they claimed another victory by a three-goal margin.
The hosts were simply sensational in the first half, with Marco Reus, Mario Gotze and Ilkay Gundogan netting and they hit the woodwork three times.
Kazakhstan were much better in the second half and got a goal back through Heinrich Schmidtgal after a glaring error from Manuel Neuer.
They too hit the woodwork, but Germany wrapped up a much-deserved win late on through Reus's second of the game,
Read how the action unfolded with our live text commentary below.
Hello everyone and welcome to our coverage of Germany vs. Kazakhstan from Group C.
Germany won the reverse fixture, which took place just three days ago. It was 3-0 then and could very well be more tonight.
I'll bring the Germany team news right to you, with Kazakhstan to follow as and when I have it.
GERMANY XI: Neuer; Lahm, Mertesacker, Boateng, Schmelzer; Khedira, Gundogan; Muller, Ozil, Reus; Gotze
So as expected, and as he did last time, Joachim Low opts for the 'false nine', with Mario Gotze once again being named as the focal point who will drift between the lines.
Low has made a few changes from the match in Kazakhstan. The suspended Bastian Schweinsteiger obviously is not named and Julian Draxler's injury on Friday keeps him out too. In their respective places come Ilkay Gundogan and Marco Reus.
The other change is Jerome Boateng coming in to start at centre-back in place of Benedikt Howedes, who played there on Friday.
Low did say in the build-up to this one that the false nine is unlikely to feature when he does have strikers available. He said: "There will always be a need for a striker. It's entirely not the case that I'm abolishing the use of strikers in this team." Full report of his comments here.
Even without Schweinsteiger that is one very strong German side. Gundogan is a top quality player to bring in and even with Gotze having to play up front they can rely on Reus to fill in. Reus has had an excellent season and tends to take his chances when he plays for his nation.
In the game on Friday Kazakhstan were set up very deliberately to be compact and play on the break. It worked for a while but the Germans' sheer quality shone through and they were comfortable after opening the scoring just before the half-hour mark. I expect the first goal tonight to be quicker than that.
Germany are currently runaway leaders in Group C. They have won four of five so far and drawn the other, putting them on 13 points. The next closest, Sweden, have eight with two wins and two draws from one fewer game. Kazakhstan have just one point and one goal in their five games and are second-bottom.
Still waiting for new on the Kazakhstan team, so I'm going to take a look at the odds. Before I do though, I fancy you to get very good money on an away win! Tempted? Didn't think so.
As expected, you won't get good value for your money for a Germany win. The best you'll get pre-kickoff is 1-41 and they're out as far as 1-100 too. For Kazakhstan, bookies give them no hope whatsoever and they're between 33-1 and 100-1.
So, less than 15 minutes to go until kickoff, I suppose I'd better put my money where my mouth is and made a prediction. It'll be a hammering, and I can see Germany hitting six but I'm going for 5-0 in this one.
I think it's a good call by Low not to chop and change too much. Kazakhstan may have only scored one goal so far, but they're still an international side do it's worth playing a strong team against them.
Hurrah! I have the Kazakh team. Here it comes...
KAZAKHSTAN XI: Sidelnikov; Kirov, Mukhtarov, Gorman, Nurdauletov; Konysbayev, Dmitrenko; Engel-Korobkin, Schmidtgal; Ostrapenko
Germany kick us off and we're underway!
Germany are straight into the attack and work space in the box twice inside the opening minute, but Kazakhstan manage to clear from both Mesut Ozil and Mario Gotze.
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Sami Khedira threats it through the eye of a needle to Phillip Lahm, but the Kazakh's again are able to clear. Gotze is receiving treatment for a horrible looking nose injury - presumably from the clash in the box as he tried to get through.
Reus is found in acres of space on the left and drills in a low cross. It's again cleared by the defence, this time Gorman and Germany have to come again. It's patient probing from the hosts and dogged defending from the visitors, as was expected before kickoff.
Kazakhstan come forward in a rare attack and Schmidtgal does well down the left to win a corner. It comes in and Engel-Korobkin wins the header but plants it wide of the post! Best chance so far.
Gundogan tries to clip into the bottom corner from about 20 yards, but it started too far outside the post and he couldn't get it to curl back on target.
At the other end Germany win a corner of their own as Muller's cross is hacked behind. I think Gotze has finally returned after lengthy treatment.
After that warning sign from Kazakhstan Germany have started to exert themselves once more. The passing is excellent as Gotze gets in behind after being found by Khedira, but his cross is well saved by Sidelnikov.
The visitors break at pace with Schmidtgal holding off Reus well, but the midfielder catches him and gets the ball with a superb sliding tackle.
Khedira is played in by Ozil and shoots from just outside the box, however the goalkeeper parries it away and gathers at the second attempt. The pressure is starting to increase.
Reus swings in a free kick from the right flank. It's not dealt with and it bobbles around in the box, before eventually being hacked clear. Reus gets in down the left but more desperate defending sees the ball cleared once more. It's surely just a matter of time now.
OFF THE POST! So unlucky for Gundogan! The cross comes in from the right and the midfielder had drifted into the box, striking it full on the volley. The keeper was beaten but it hits the inside of the post and is cleared to safety. He deserved better.
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OFF THE BAR! Unbelievable! This time Gotze is played in just inside the box. He takes a touch and hammers towards goal but his shot also comes off the woodwork.
GOAL! Germany 1-0 Kazakhstan (Marco Reus)
Well, that had been coming. Ozil passes to Reus, who creates space for himself with his first touch. He's running away from goal but swivels and strikes a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Finally the breakthrough.
Complete one-way traffic now. Kazakhstan are parking the bus, but it's a bus that has the windows wide open because they just can't stop the Germans bursting through. The second will surely arrive before long.
GOAL! Germany 2-0 Kazakhstan (Mario Gotze)
Incredible driving run by Lahm, who skips past three before reaching the byline. He cuts back to Gotze, who slides home the easiest of tap-ins.
Gotze gets the goal that the break in his nose deserves. He'll probably still be feeling it, but finding the net will help no doubt. Germany are still passing it around with ease, patiently waiting for chances.
GOAL! Germany 3-0 Kazakhstan (Ilkay Gundogan)
How many is it going to be? Ozil does well on the right flank, cutting on to his left to find Gundogan, who had burst through from the centre of midfield. He hits it on the half volley high into the net.
Still they come forward relentlessly. Ozil finds Muller, whose cross is deflected as far as Lahm, but his shot from range goes flying well over the bar.
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Kazakhstan just have no answer to the movement of Ozil and Reus without Gundogan getting forward at any opportunity. It's complete and utter dominance in absolutely every department so far. A mismatch that says as much about Germany's qualities as it does about the Kazakhs' lack of.
I don't actually recall the last time Kazakhstan strung more than two passes together. Really good work on the edge of the box there between Gotze and Ozil sees the former try to cross, but Sidelnikov parries it behind.
OFF THE BAR! Unreal from Gundogan! He nips past a couple of tackles on the edge of the box before striking the top of the bar with a shot. On another day he'd have three.
They create space from nothing, the Germans. The movement on the edge of the box is just too much. This time the combination of Gundogan, Muller and Reus cannot create anything though. Neuer tries to get himself in the game by controlling a hoofed clearance on the half-way line. That shows hos quiet a night it has been for him.
A rare burst forward for the visitors there, but it was quickly nipped in the bud by a sea of white shirts. They press like flies on a dustbin without the ball.
HALF-TIME: Germany 3-0 Kazakhstan
No time for any stoppages, apparently, and the referee blows right on 45 minutes. Germany are in complete control and they can just score as many as they want you feel.
It's 3-0 and Germany have also hit the woodwork three times. Kazakhstan - just as many countries - have no answer for the movement of Gotze, Reus and Ozil. Muller has been a little bit quiet but Gundogan breaking forward at every opportunity has been the player of the game so far.
My 5-0 prediction is suddenly looking a little cautious. It could easily be 6-0 currently and with absolutely no way back for the visitors Germany will just want to score as many as they can in the second half.
As it did on Friday, the false nine with Gotze has worked well. It's been a flowing front four or five, but I'm sure Low will still look to play a proper striker when he has Mario Gomez or Miroslav Klose available again, particularly against stronger opposition.
KAZAKHSTAN SUB: Jolchiev replaces Nurdauletov as we're back underway.
GOAL! Germany 3-1 Kazakhstan (Heinrich Schmidtgal)
Oh dear. It's a huge rick from Neuer! He had nothing to do in the first half, and with his first touch of the second he miscontrols the ball. It falls to Schmidtgal who scores a simple goal! Terrible goalkeeping.
Germany take the hit of the goal against and just carry on with their patient passing game. If that had happened at 1-0 or 0-0 it might have been a concern, but in truth the Kazakh's won't score two more. Neuer, especially, won't do that again. They win a corner with a deflected shot from range.
Germany still without a proper chance in this half, although they are very composed with the ball. They should still go on to grab another two or three.
Kazakhstan foray forward again, but on the counter Lahm tries to cross with his left foot. It leads to nothing, however. They are picking up every second ball now, however, and starting to press.
A brilliant passing move between Ozil, Khedira and Gundogan just fails to produce as it's cleared for a corner. On the other side Muller looks to work space but it eventually comes out to Boateng, who shoots from a long way out on his left foot and it goes wide.
Schmelzer bursts through for one of the first times tonight and is found brilliantly by Ozil on the overlap. However Germany can't work a chance. They come again but more dogged defending forces them back again.
It's been far from the showing in the first half thus far from the Germans. They've passed it well but the cutting edge has been left in the dressing room it would seem.
Another German chance breaks down and the Kazakhs try to break. Only a very good headed interception from Mertesacker stops Ostapenko finding Schmidtgal.
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KHAZAKHSTAN SUB: It is Ostapenko's last action as he makes way for Zhambyl Kukejev. At the other end Schmelzer shoots from just outside the box but drags it wide.
Germany are firmly camped in the attacking third now. Still they struggle to get real chances on goal, however. It's been good from the visitors this half.
Boateng rises high in the box from a corner, but he's too far out to do damage with his header and it drops comfortably wide. A Muller cross is then too close to Sidelnikov. The possession has been a staggering 79% for Germany so far.
There's a scramble inside the box and Reus is just pipped to the ball as he swings a foot at it. Low is looking slightly concerned on the touchline, his side have been far from impressive since half time and another Kazakh goal would make it very, very interesting.
SAVES! POST! Incredible how the ball hasn't gone in for Germany! A couple of corners come in for the visitors and the hosts break. First Gotze's effort is parried before Ozil hits the post from an angle. Khedira then has a shot tipped on to the post. Fantastic keeping.
SAVE! Sidelnikov called into action again. Lahm cuts into the box, is half tackled and it falls to Khedira's left shot. He fires it towards goal but the keeper gets in another good parry. They're hammering on the door now.
OFF THE BAR! This is getting ridiculous now. The woodwork is hit for the sixth time. Muller controls a volley and tries to clip it over Sidelnikov, but the keeper gets a touch and tips it on to the crossbar.
KAZAKHSTAN SUB: Ulan Konysbayev makes way for Dmitriy Shomko.
OFF THE POST! I'm not actually making this up. A free kick comes in from Schmidtgal and Korobkin meets it with his left foot. He's so unlucky as it hits the outside of the post and goes wide. That's a let-off for Germany, who must put away another chance.
SAVE! Sidelnikov is possessed! This time Gotze is played in by Ozil and the keeper makes a fine save from point-blank range to deny him.
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CHANCE! Really good chance for Reus. The ball is pinged across to Muller by Gundogan and his low cross misses everyone until it reaches Reus. He shoots wide but really should have hit the target.
Muller has had much more of a say in this half, but really he's been nullified quite well all game. Gundogan goes more direct in possible frustration, but his pass goes out for a goal kick and is greeted by whistles.
Germany have had 16 shots on target tonight compared to the away side's two. It's currently 80%-20% in possession and in fact the only stat they aren't leading in is offsides, which is 1-1. They won't lose but they really should be more goals up.
CHANCE! On the break, Kazakhstan have a chance. The ball is cut back to Schmitdgal but his shot is blocked on the line.
GOAL! Germany 4-1 Kazakhstan (Marco Reus)
There it finally is. It's a very similar chance that they've had on a number of occasions tonight. Reus is slipped through by Gundogan and the winger this time curls his effort past Sidelnikov. It's his last action of the game as he makes way for Marcell Jansen.
FULL-TIME: Germany 4-1 Kazakhstan
It probably should have been more than 4-1 in the end, but either way Germany are clear and deserved winners in Nuremberg. Kazakhstan caused problems in the second half, latching on to a Neuer mistake and then hitting the post, but Reus made sure of the points late on. Germany's march to winning Group C goes on.
Thanks for joining me tonight for this one and be sure to stay with us for reaction from all of tonight's qualifiers. Until next time!
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
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