Jonas Hofmann stars as Hansi Flick's Germany stay perfect in Armenia
Borussia Mönchengladbach's Jonas Hofmann scored one and made another as Germany maintained their perfect start under Hansi Flick with a comfortable 4-1 win away to Armenia in their final 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Already assured of their place at the 2022 World Cup, Germany dominated proceedings from the get-go in Yerevan. Thomas Müller, winning his 110th senior cap, sent a cross-shot at Armenia debutant goalkeeper Stanislav Buchnev, before Kai Havertz directed an inch-perfect Leroy Sane pass against the woodwork. Havertz made his second chance count with 15 minutes gone when Müller and Hofmann combined to set up the former Bayer Leverkusen man for a deft first-time finish. Buchnev kept out further attempts from Florian Neuhaus and Sane, but was powerless to prevent Ilkay Gündogan adding a second from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time after Neuhaus had been upended by Taron Voskanyan.
Germany picked up where they left off as Havertz shot wide within seconds of the restart. Gündogan then doubled his tally with a speculative shot that slipped through the hands of Buchnev. After Khoren Bayramyan shot into the side netting, Armenia capped a fleeting spell of possession with a consolation penalty through former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan. That only served to poke the bear, though, as Havertz lashed wide before Hofmann pounced on a mistake by Mkhitaryan and finished with aplomb. Substitutes Maximilian Arnold and Lukas Nmecha went close to a fifth as Germany breezed to their seventh straight win of the Flick era.
Match stats
Germany were the first team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. They finish top of Group J on 27 points from a possible 30.
Die Mannschaft have won all five of their meetings with Armenia, and have never lost an away game in World Cup qualifying.
Sane has scored four and assisted two since Flick replaced Joachim Löw as coach.
Hofmann marked his 10th senior international with his second Germany goal.
FIFA World Cup Qualifier, Group J Qualifier, Group J Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan
90'
+ 1
SEVEN OUT OF SEVEN
Germany end 2021 with a seventh straight win of the Flick era. The result was never in any doubt today - they finish top of Group J with 27 points from a possible 30. Roll on Qatar 2022!
Full-time
89'
TIME ADDED ON
One minute for Armenia to endure. They'll be watching Germany from afar at next winter's World Cup finals in Qatar...
He scored the winner in the U21 Euro final this summer, but Wolfsburg's Nmecha will have to wait a while longer for his first senior Germany goal. The Wolfsburg striker collects a pass from Havertz, but shoots wide.
83'
HOFMANN IMPRESSES ONCE MORE
Hofmann appears to have moved ahead of Baku in the pecking order as Flick's preferred right-sided defender, despite both being attacking players by trade. The Gladbach man's been on fire this season.
Germany's high press forces the error as Mkhitaryan misplaces a pass out from the back. Hofmann picks it off and confidently slots into the bottom corner.
Moments after Bayramyan tickles the side netting, the hosts win a penalty. Neuhaus is the culprit for a foul on Terteryan, and ex-Dortmund midfielder Mkhitaryan thrashes the ensuing spot-kick down the middle.
50'
THREEASY PEASY!
Müller finds Gündogan, who chances his arm from range. Buchnev makes a complete mess of it, and Germany have a third. Expect to see that on a Bloopers compilation.
Germany pick up where they left off as Havertz cuts inside and whips an effort just wide.
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'
+ 4
GÜNDY ON THE SPOT!
Gündogan sinks a penalty for the second game in a row, sending the Armenia stopper the wrong way. Germany cruising to a seventh straight win of the Flick era...
Voskanyan doesn't appear to get any of the ball as he challenges Neuhaus in the box. Following a VAR review, the referee points to the penalty spot...
34'
SET-PIECE THREAT
Armenia do not like these Germant corners. If it's not Gündogan, it's Hofmann. The latter picks out Kehrer, who heads over.
27'
OVER!
Adamyan does manage to get the ball in the Germany area. He flicks into the path of Spertsyan, who balloons over. Armenia might not get a better chance!
23'
CHANCES
Buchnev is forced into evasive action at the feet of Neuhaus after Armenia failed to clear a Gündogan corner. Sane then goes in on goal, but the Armenia keeper is out to block the Bayern attacker's poked effort. A second goal is incoming...
19'
TOTAL CONTROL
An early lead and 80 percent possession - Flick's Germany are in the mood once again...
15'
GERMANY LEAD!
A goal made in the Bundesliga as Gladbach's Jonas Hofmann combines with Muller, before sweeping a ball into the box for ex-Leverkusen man Kai Havertz to turn home with the deftest of touches. It had been coming...
It's shaping up to be a lonely stint at the head of the Armenia attack for Hoffenheim's Sargis Adamyan. A lot of back-tracking, but precious little else.
5'
WOODWORK!
Leroy Sane puts on the after-burners and tears clear down the left. His cross is straight onto the boot of Havertz, whose first-time effort from six yards strikes the upright.
2'
MÜLLER!
Germany immediately on the offensive as Müller collects Ginter's pass and tests Armenia goalkeeper Buchnev. He didn't catch it quite right, though, to trouble the debutant stopper.
1'
UNDER WAY!
The ball's rolling in Yerevan. Will Germany maintain their perfect start under Flick?
Kick-off!
TEAMS OUT
Here they come! It's national anthem time. Kick-off is imminent...
FLICK PRAISES MÜLLER
Thomas Müller overtook Jürgen Klinsmann into outright sixth for most appearances with Germany in the 9-0 drubbing of Liechtenstein. He marked his 109th outing with his 42nd goal. "Thomas is someone who always puts the effort in," Flick commented. "I really like that. He is really important off the pitch even if he doesn't make himself the centre of attention. He pushes the group and keeps everyone on their toes. He's a really important player for us in that regard. I am happy to have him in the team."
Serge Gnabry scored twice as Germany thrashed Armenia 6-0 in the reverse fixture. Marco Reus, Timo Werner, Jonas Hofmann and Karim Adeyemi were also on target in what was Flick's second match in charge.
FLICK WARY OF ARMENIA
"Armenia had one or two players suspended during their defeat to North Macedonia," Germany's head coach said at his pre-match press conference. "It's their last home game and we all know how motivating it can be when you're playing against a big side. They can put that defeat to North Macedonia right with a good performance against us. In any case, we showed what quality we possess in our last match. So we want to pick up the three points and end the year with a win."
DESTINATION QATAR
Germany punched their ticket to the finals with two games to spare, becoming the first European nation to do so. Brazil, Denmark, France, Belgium and Croatia have since secured qualification.
RAUM TO MANOEUVRE
Like Lukas Nmecha, Hoffenheim's David Raum was part of Germany's U21 Euro-winning team earlier this year. He's since earned two senior caps, and makes his second start for Flick's side today. The left-back position still feels like it's very much up for grabs, ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
Jonathan Tah earns his 14th senior cap, and first under Flick, exactly a year after his last appearance for his country. The 6'4" Leverkusen centre-back is averaging 93.6 percent for passes completed and has won 45 aerial challenges - a league-high among defenders this sesson.
Following his brace against Liechtenstein, Sane has scored four goals in his last five appearances for Germany. He's been on fire for Bayern, too, producing eight goals and 10 assists in 18 competitive games so far this season.
Flick has won his first six games as Germany boss, surpassing his predecessor Joachim Löw's national record for the best start as Bundestrainer. Germany have scored 27 and conceded just one goal on the former Bayern Munich coach's watch.
MORE ON THOSE TEAMS
Hansi Flick makes five changes to the side that thrashed Liechtenstein 9-0 earlier in the week. Marc-Andre her Stegen starts in goal, with Matthias Ginter, Jonathan Tah and David Raum coming into the defence. Florian Neuhaus gets a run-out in midfield, while Kai Havertz returns from suspension in attack. Thomas Müller captains the side in the absence of Manuel Neuer.
GERMANY SUBS:
Trapp, Leno, Günter, Baku, Volland, Arnold, L. Nmecha, Brandt
