By Jens Mende and Klaus Bergmann, dpa
Hamburg (dpa) – Thomas Mueller again struck twice for Germany in a
3-0 victory over Czech Republic on Saturday as the world champions made it two emphatic wins out of two in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Mueller, who had bagged a brace in a 3-0 win over Norway last month, put Germany ahead in the 13th minute in Hamburg, Toni Kroos slotted in a second early in the second half before Mueller swept in a third in the 65th.
Germany top Group C on goal difference over Azerbaijan while the Czech Republic remain on one point following a goalless draw with Northern Ireland last month. Germany play Northern Ireland in Hanover on Tuesday.
Mueller, who had failed to score at Euro 2016, struck early for Germany after a swift break down the left in which Mario Goetze fed Mesut Oezil, who quickly turned the ball on for the Bayern Munich midfielder to finish.
More chances followed against a Czech side which had tried to get forward but left space at the back which Germany soon exploited.
Julian Draxler fired narrowly wide, Mueller had an effort saved by keeper Tomas Vaclik, and Goetze failed to finish after a one-two with Mueller.
But Kroos made no mistake four minutes after the interval when he side-footed the ball first time into the corner of the net from the edge of the area after Joshua Kimmich squared the ball from the right.
Oezil then fed Jonas Hector overlapping on the left and the Cologne defender’s cross was turned in at the near post by Mueller.
«We could have scored more goals but basically it was a good performance from us,» Mueller told RTL television.
The visitors threatened to score a consolation but in all it was a convincing display from Joachim Loew’s side which had Jerome Boateng back in central defence following injury in the only change from the line-up that started against Norway in Oslo.
«It was a very good game by us in the first half,» Boateng told RTL.
«They had a couple of chances in the second half but on the whole we had the game well under control.»
Ilkay Guendogan, who had not played for Germany since a friendly defeat to France in November 2015 and missed Euro 2016 with a knee injury, also saw some action when he came off the subs’ bench for Kroos with 14 minutes remaining.
It was a 94th victory in 140 matches for Germany for Loew, who now shares the win record with the 1954 World Cup winning West Germany coach Sepp Herberger.
«We can be very satisfied. We had absolute control over the whole 90 minutes,» Loew said. «When we play into space like that the opponents run themselves dead after 60 minutes. Then the Czechs had no more chance.»
