Germany achieve record, win all qualifying matches!

Joachim Löw's Germany made it 10 win out of 10 qualifying matches in the 2012 European Championship by winning their final group match 3-1 against Belgium at the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf.

As expected Löw made some changes to his starting line-up, actually he made five changes bringing in some young blood besides welcoming back Mesut Özil.

Belgium had the better start into the game, but after withstanding the initial attacks Germany took control of proceedings. It was Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Özil who opened the scoring for Germany at the half hour mark following a corner and only three minutes later André Schürrle doubled the lead following a counter-attack after a corner for Belgium. It stayed 2-0 for Germany at the break.

After the break Germany sealed the game with a third goal just three minutes into the half when Mario Gomez finished off a nice combination with Özil. Belgium did get on the scoresheet in the 86th minute through Marouane Fellaini, but the game was by then in Germany's bag. It ended 3-1 for the Germans and it was celebration time for a rare achievement, not dropping any points in the qualifiers.

Now bigger and better opponents are likely to await 'die Mannschaft' at 2012 European Championship in Poland and the Ukraine next year.


MATCH STATS

Germany 3-1 (2-0) - Goals: 1-0 Mesut Özil (30'), 2-0 André Schürrle (33'), 3-0 Mario Gomez (48'), 3-1 Marouane Fellaini (86')

Germany
1-Manuel Neuer; 3-Benedikt Höwedes, 17-Per Mertesacker, 5-Mats Hummels, 16-Philipp Lahm [C] (84' 19-Ilkay Gündogan); 18-Toni Kroos, 6-Sami Khedira; 13-Thomas Müller (71' 21-Marco Reus), 8-Mesut Özil, 9-André Schürrle; 23-Mario Gomez (76' 11-Cacau)
Unused Substitutes: 22-Ron-Robert Zieler, 2-Simon Rolfes, 4-Dennis Aogo, 15-Christian Träsch

Belgium
1-Simon Mignolet; 2-Laurent Ciman, 4-Vincent Kompany [C], 5-Jan Vertonghen, 3-Nicolas Lombaerts; 8-Marouane Fellaini, 6-Timmy Simons; 11-Moussa Dembélé (65' 17-Dries Mertens), 10-Axel Witsel, 7-Eden Hazard; 9-Marvin Ogunjimi (46' 18-Romelu Lukaku)
Unused Substitutes: 12-Thibaut Courtois, 13-Carl Hoefkens, 14-Steven Defour, 15-Gaby Mudingayi, 16-Sébastien Pocognoli

Referee
Svein Oddvar Moen (Norway)