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Germany vs. Czech Republic: Score and Reaction for World Cup 2018 Qualifying
- Updated: October 8, 2016
Germany cruised to a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic in their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Saturday, with Thomas Muller bagging a brace.
Muller gave the hosts a first-half lead with an easy tap-in, and Toni Kroos doubled their advantage immediately after the half-time break. Muller added a second goal midway through the second half, all but ending the contest.
As Germany’s official Twitter account shared, Jerome Boateng returned to the starting XI, with Benedikt Howedes moving to the bench:
Our line-up for #GERCZE: Neuer © – Hector, Hummels, Khedira, Draxler, Kroos, Özil, Müller, Boateng, Kimmich, Götze. #DieMannschaft
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) October 8, 2016
Germany entered the match with a superb record in qualifiers at home, and predictably, they went right at the visitors from the opening kick-off. Sami Khedira put the defence to work after just three minutes, but his effort was blocked.
Mario Gotze and Mesut Ozil almost unlocked the Czech defence with a clever passing move, and then Kroos couldn’t beat the wall with a hard free-kick. The Real Madrid man put goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik to work with a shot from 25 yards out shortly after, but his strike barely troubled the stopper.
Mats Hummels made a great tackle on Matej Vydra to stop a Czech attack, and Die Mannschaft broke quickly with numbers, with Ozil eventually finding Muller, who easily converted from close range.
Bleacher Report UK couldn’t help themselves:
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