In a blitz of breathtaking football, Tim Kleindienst and Florian Wirtz each notched a brace as Germany obliterated Bosnia and Herzegovina with a crushing 7-0 victory on Saturday, clinching the top spot in Group A3.
The Germans sprang to life early in their final home fixture of the year, hinting at a sizzling encounter with Joshua Kimmich delivering a pinpoint cross that Jamal Musiala expertly nodded into the net’s right corner, setting the stage for a commanding performance.
The home team took control of the game, hemming in the Bosnians, who were left chasing shadows, with Germany monopolizing possession and advancing almost at will.
The relentless pressure from Germany bore fruit 20 minutes later, as Robert Andrich unleashed a powerful shot from distance, enabling Kleindienst to deftly deflect it for their second goal of the encounter.
Julian Nagelsmann’s men proved too much for their opponents, who struggled to contain the onslaught, despite key opportunities slipping through Germany’s grasp, particularly for Kai Havertz and Musiala, who each barely missed adding their names to the scoresheet.
Nonetheless, Germany found their third, highlighting their dominance just before halftime, as Havertz expertly linked up with Wirtz for a fluid one-two, culminating in a slick finish in the 37th minute.
As the second half unfolded, Germany’s momentum remained unchecked. Wirtz dazzled merely five minutes in, curling a magnificent free-kick into the top right corner, only to follow it up with his second, slotting home from close quarters shortly thereafter.
Keen to maintain the high tempo, Nagelsmann rolled the dice with quickfire substitutions, introducing Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry. The impact was immediate; Gnabry narrowly missed with a strike in the 65th minute, but Sane made no mistake soon after, effortlessly finding the net for Germany’s sixth, showcasing class and composure.
Unfaltering in their pursuit of goals, the German side rounded off the scoring in the 79th minute when Kleindienst latched onto a sweeping long pass from Antonio Rudiger, sealing a triumphant seven-goal statement.
Post-match, the victory saw Germany firmly seated at the summit of Group 3, League A, edging out formidable teams including the Netherlands—currently on 8 points—Hungary trailing with 5, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
“We played with sheer passion, like a well-oiled machine,” reflected coach Nagelsmann. “Both our attack and defense were relentless today. Even post substitutions, our performance never wavered. It was exhilarating!” Wirtz chimed in with a grin, saying, “A real blast today! We really put the pressure on, dictated play, and reined in turnovers. Relentless in our attack and it paid off with superb goals.”
Looking ahead, Germany prepares to face Hungary on Tuesday, aiming to close out their group stage on a high, while Bosnia-Herzegovina gets set to square off against the Netherlands.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
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