Five straight wins for Germany in World Cup qualifiers

Germany won 4-1 against Azerbaijan on Sunday, taking their tally to five victories in five matches in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Two-goal André Schürrle, Thomas Müller and Mario Gomez scored for Germany, with Dimitrij Nazarov netting an equaliser on the half-hour. The result means the world champions are table-toppers on 15 points, having a comfortable cushion over Northern Ireland on ten points, the Czech Republic on eight and Azerbaijan on seven points.

All three FC Bayern pros called up by head coach Joachim Löw made the starting line-up. Mats Hummels started at centre-back and Joshua Kimmich took up station at right-back, with Thomas Müller featuring in Germany's attacking unit.

Brave hosts

Azerbaijan's early pressing caused Löw's troops problems at first, but the world champions took the lead following their first concerted attack. André Schürrle connected with a Jonas Hector cross to tap in from point-blank range 18 minutes into the contest, and the hosts' battling was undone for a moment.

However, Azerbaijan picked up a bad pass ten minutes later and Nazarov rounded off the attack, slotting past Bernd Leno, who deputised for the injured Manuel Neuer between the sticks. The equaliser was the first goal Germany conceded in the World Cup qualifiers.

Germany refused to be knocked out of their stride and replied five minutes later, when Müller latched on to a fine Schürrle pass and rounded the keeper to tap in. Mario Gomez headed home following Kimmich's pinpoint cross with the half-time whistle imminent. The match ebbed after the restart, the hosts running up vainly against the disciplined Germans before Hector invited Schürrle to twist the knife with ten minutes to go, making it 4-1.