Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane star for Germany in Iceland
Bayern Munich duo Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane were on target as Germany consolidated their position atop 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying Group J with a comfortable win in Iceland.
Gnabry scored twice inside 15 first-half minutes in the 6-0 drubbing of Armenia, but needed just four minutes to break the deadlock in Reykjavik. The Bayern forward converted a smart Sane cross, with the goal standing following a VAR review for offside. Isak Johannesson tested Manuel Neuer with a shot from range, before Antonio Rüdiger powered in a Joshua Kimmich cross with his head to give the visitors daylight. Not to be outdone by Hannes Halldorsson beating away a fierce strike from Leon Goretzka, Germany and Bayern captain Neuer threw up a hand to deny Johann Gudmundsson following a flowing Iceland move late in the half.
Timo Werner was sent clean through on goal early in the second period, but could not beat Halldorsson one-on-one. Iceland responded in kind as Gudmundsson thundered a long-range effort against the woodwork, with Albert Gudmundsson’s follow-up strike chalked off for offside. Substitute Kai Havertz flunked another one-on-one, but Germany got a deserved third before the hour. After Halldorsson could only parry from Werner, Sane exchanged passes with Goretzka before curling a sumptuous effort under the crossbar. Werner added the gloss late on as Germany recorded their third straight win under new coach Hansi Flick.
Match stats
Flick has won his opening three games as coach of Bayern and Germany. He won his first two at the Hoffenheim helm.
Gnabry has scored 19 goals in 29 games for Germany.
Sane scored his ninth Germany goal on his 37th senior international outing.
Neuer is Germany's most-capped current player with 106 caps.
FIFA World Cup Group J Group J Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavik
90'
GERMANY WIN AGAIN
Germany make it three wins from three under Hansi Flick. They move four points clear at the top of World Cup qualifying Group J, ahead of October's Matchday 7 meeting with Romania.
Full-time
90'
TIME ADDED ON
Germany have four minutes to find a fifth goal...
89'
TIMO TIME!
Werner gets his goal! Musiala pings a fantastic diagonal ball into the box for Havertz. He only has eyes for club and countryman Werner, who fires home, despite the best efforts of Halldorsson. He thinks he's done enough to keep it out, but a VAR review confirms otherwise.
How Germany aren't 3-0 up here is anyone's guess. Lukas Klostermann collects a sensational pass from Ilkay Gündogan, and crosses for Werner. It's virtually an open goal, but somehow the Chelsea man manages to balloon over!
That's how to finish! Havertz slips in Werner, who's denied by Halldorsson. It comes back out to Sane, who could shoot, but doesn't. Instead, he exchanges passes with Goretzka, before whipping the ball under the crossbar for 3-0. Lovely, lovely effort!
Germany set off on a three-on-one counter. Havertz is into the box, but flunks the one-on-one by dragging his effort wide.
50'
ICELAND GOAL RULED OUT
Johann Gudmundsson is a good 25 yards out as he hammers an effort past Neuer and onto the crossbar. Albert Gudmundsson turns in the rebound, but a VAR review shows him to have been in an offside position when the shot came in.
48'
BIG CHANCE!
Ilkay Gündogan sends Timo Werner through on the Iceland goal with only Halldorsson to beat, but it's a tame hit and an easy save in the end. Should have scored.
46'
DOUBLE CHANGE
Hansi Flick hits refresh on his right-hand side, with Lukas Klostermann and Kai Havertz replacing Jonas Hofmann and Serge Gnabry. Hofmann's been the surprise of the September internationals, as an attacking wide player impressing on the right-hand side of the defence. Gnabry's been on fire with three goals in as many games.
Serge Gnabry and Antonio Rüdiger goals have Germany in control at the break.
Half-time
45'
TIME ADDED ON
Just 60 additional seconds in Reykjavik...
43'
NEUER DOING NEUER THINGS
He's not had much to do, but Manuel Neuer's just stood up to a goal-bound effort from Gudmundsson. The Germany skipper was on hand moments earlier to intercept a dangerous cross from the same man, too!
38'
OVER FOR SANE
Johannesson's called back for impeding Gündogan on the edge of the Iceland area. Sane whips it over the ball, but doesn't get enough topspin on the shot to trouble the goalkeeper.
36'
CORNER CONCERN
Despite Germany's lack of an out-and-out No.9, Iceland aren't dealing all too well with Kimmich's set-piece deliveries. Timo Werner and Leon Goretzka have been on the end of them in the past few minutes. Apparently it's the kind of thing Flick used to work on with players when he was Joachim Löw's assistant.
Some hit from the Bayern midfielder - he catches it really well on the outside of the area - but Halldorsson reacts well to push the ball away.
24'
GERMANY EXTEND LEAD!
Leon Goreztka concedes a foul in dangerous territory. Joshua Kimmich bends in a wicked free-kick, and Antonio Rüdiger rises highest to power in an unstoppable header. With deliveries like that, it's no wonder Kimmich is such a popular Fantasy Bundesliga pick!
Whoops - spoke too soon. Iceland make in-roads with a free-kick that finds the head of Schale midfielder Victor Palsson, before Antonio Rüdiger intervenes with a timely clearance. The hosts come again and beat the Germany press, but Johannesson's strike from distance is too close to Manuel Neuer.
15'
ONE-WAY TRAFFIC
It's all Germany as Gündogan flashes in a shot at Halldorsson from range. This could be a long night for Iceland...
4'
GNABRY STRIKES AGAIN!
He scored two goals in 15 first-half minutes against Armenia - he's needed just four today. Gnabry appears to be offside as he turns in from Bayern teammate Leroy Sane, but the goal stands following a VAR review. Another fantastic start from Flick's men.
Germany have started on the front-foot. Timo Werner and Serge Gnabry combine, but the ball just slips away from the Bayern man before he can get a shot off.
1'
THREAD WATCH
Germany get us under way, in their traditional white and black home kit. Iceland are in all blue.
Kick-off!
MODEST BACKING
There are 3,600 spectators in attendance as the two nations take to the field in in Reykjavik. Kick-off is just moments away...
THE FLICK FACTOR
Two wins with eight goals scored and none against - it's all going to plan for Germany under Hansi Flick. The 2020 sextuple winner has now won his opening two games as coach of Hoffenheim, Bayern and the national team, though he lost his third at Hoffenheim.
Bayern's Jamal Musiala and Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz are among three already capped teenagers on the Germany bench. The other, Salzburg's Karim Adeyemi, scored a debut goal from the bench against Armenia three days ago.
LAST TIME OUT
Germany ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Iceland on Matchday 1. Leon Goretzka and Kai Havertz scored inside the opening three minutes in Duisburg, before Ilkay Gündogan got in on the act in the second half.
Germany top the group on 12 points from a possible 15. Armenia (10 pts.), Romania (nine pts.), North Macedonia (eight pts.) and Iceland (four pts.) complete the chasing pack, with rock-bottom Liechtenstein winless at the halfway stage.
MORE ON THOSE TEAMS
Hansi Flick makes one change to the side that hit Armenia for six on Sunday. Marco Reus has withdrawn from the squad with a knock sustained in that game, so in comes Ilkay Gündogan. Kai Havertz is only fit enough for a place on the bench following illness. Goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson is one of six players rotated in to the Iceland side, meanwhile, following their 2-2 draw at home to North Macedonia.
Germany are in Iceland for their third match under new coach Hansi Flick, and sixth 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Can they build on recent wins over Liechtenstein and Armenia to consolidate top spot in Group J? Stay tuned to find out...
