Germany close to Euro2012 qualification

Germany made it seven wins out of seven games in their 2012 European Championship Group A qualifiers. The Germans won 3-1 against Azerbaijan in their capital Baku last night to move closer to qualify for the final round next year.

Only in theory Germany could now miss next years finals in Poland and the Ukraine, if they lose their remaining three matches while Turkey would have to win their remaining four games. But that looks unlikely for a young German side which has vastly matured over the last year.

Germany coach Joachim Loew once more had to replace numerous absentees and put together a new playing eleven with captain and usual right back Philipp Lahm pushed up as a defensive midfielder. Interestingly Lahm was the oldest German player at the age of only 27 with the starting elevens average age below 24, the lowest ever for a German national team.

"Hard to believe that at 27, I was the oldest out there, but it shows the depth of young talent we have in the squad," said Lahm, who was winning his 80th cap.

Azerbaijan did have their moments early on, but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was up to the task. Germany needed time to settle down, but once they did they controlled proceedings. It was left to Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Oezil to open the scoring on the half hour mark with a placed shot and then four minutes before the break Oezil got an assist after he got a through ball from Holger Badstuber and squared the ball into the middle for Mario Gomez to slot home.

After the break Germany didn't push enough for the third goal and conceded only a minute from time when Azerbaijan striker Murad Huseynov shot past Neuer after the German defence wasn't able to clear the ball. The spectators now urged the home side to push for the equaliser, but Germany would seal the match in the third minute of injury time when substitute Mario Goetze played the ball into the middle but Mario Gomez' shot was first blocked with another substitute in Andre Schürrle scoring with a placed shot of the rebound.


GERMANY

1-Manuel Neuer; 21-Benedikt Höwedes, 5-Mats Hummels, 14-Holger Badstuber, 4-Dennis Aogo; 16-Philipp Lahm [C], 18-Toni Kroos (81' 19-Mario Götze); 13-Thomas Müller (88' 20-Lewis Holtby), 8-Mesut Özil, 10-Luks Podolski (76' 9-Andre Schürrle); 23-Mario Gomez