Czech Republic 1-2 Germany: World Cup qualifier match report, as it happened, goals
A late Mats Hummels goal left Czech Republic's slender hopes of making it to the World Cup in tatters despite pulling themselves back into the game through a wondergful Darida striker. Russia vs Egypt live: World Cup 2018 Group A
Czech Republic 1-2 Germany: match report
Germany made it seven from seven in World Cup qualifying despite a second half scare thanks to a Mats Hummels header late on at the Eden Arena in Prague on Friday night.
From the early going, Germany were in control when man of the moment in Germany, Timo Werner poked home from a splendid through ball by Mesut Ozil after four minutes.
Germany were intent on putting their stamp on the game but the home side needed to respond and that finish gave them a jolt early on. They had chances are were breaking with purpose but their final effort let them down time and time again.
Their best chance fell to them at the end of the half when a counter led to captain Gebre Selassie bearing down on goal from the right. He went for the unselfish option and drove a cross well over the goals as the players awaiting the delivery inside were livid.
The second half was a far more dour affair as Germany seemed to revert to a more defensive shape, happy with their goal lead and wary of a Czech Republic side growing in confidence.
Surprisingly, however, the home side were unwilling or uncapable of building on their own growing momentum. It seemed as though their chance was gone until Vladimir Darida sent a shot from 30 yards out flying in off the crossbar with Marc Andre Ter Stegen grasping at fresh air.
It seemed, however faint, that Czech Republic's World Cup dreams were still alive.
That was until Toni Kroos sent a free-kick onto the head of Mats Hummels with two minutes to play and the Bayern Munich defender looped it past Tomas Vaclik and the Czech's bubble was most certainly burst.
They now sit seven points behind Northern Ireland in second place as Germany stamp their authority further on the top spot and leave their opponents in Prague on the mat with little hope of a World Cup berth.
Czech Republic 0-1 Germany live stream online: live
Czech Republic vs Germany live stream online: World Cup qualifying match preview
Prague is the venue as the Group C leaders, Germany, take on Czech Republic, who currently sit in third looking up at their Friday night opponents and Northern Ireland in second. The game kicks off at Eden Arena at 20:45 CEST as Czech Republic try to chip away at Northern Ireland's four point lead on them while Germany have the chance to both keep up with Germany and seperate themselves from the Czechs as they play the group's bottom side, San Marino, at the same time.
Czech Republic
Karel Jarolim's side have won just two of their six qualifiers but lost just one. They have drawn three though and find themselves playing catch-up in a group they might have hoped to finished second in.
Patrik Schick, AS Roma's newest signing, didn't make the cut but Joralim has selected an especially youthful side to take on an energetic and attacking Germany. Only Gebre Selassie is over 30.
Jarolim's opposite number, Joachim Loew says, "The Czechs are with their backs to the wall and against us they have to get points, and win against Northern Ireland. Otherwise their World Cup dream is over,” he said. Whether he is using that as a tool to motivate his own players or pour further pressure on his opponents, you can expect a response from the Czech Republic provided they can keep pace with Germany early on.
Czech Republic squad
Vaclik, Koubek, Pavlenka; Gebre Selassie, Suchy, Kaderabek, Novak, Kalas, Boril, Hovorka, Luftner; Darida, Krejci, Dockal, Horava, Husbauer, Zmrhal, Kopic, Jankto, Barak, Soucek; Kliment, Krmencik.
Germany
Fresh off a Confederations Cup victory during the summer, Germany will look to put further daylight between themselves and the chasing pack at Eden Arena.
Joachim Lowe's side have six wins in six during the qualifiers and Lowe will need to make sure that he gives the game the importance it requires but also make sure his side are ready for Norway on September 4th as they look to win their seventh and eighth consecutive games during qualifying.
Lowe confirmed that "Kroos, Müller, Hummels, Kimmich, Hector and Özil will all start," and Ter Stegen will be the goalkeeper for the Czech Republic game but Sami Khedira has been ruled out due to injury. Meanwhile, the manager said he didn't want to "create a hierarchy" with the strikers by ranking and rating them as they are all different. Serge Gnabry also withdrew due to an ankle problem.
Mats Hummels says Germany won't be thinking of this game as a gimme by any stretch despite the result when the teams last met, "Despite losing 3-0, the Czechs played very well the first time we met them. We often had to find our way out of tricky situations and so I'm not expecting an easy game this time around. We know a few of their players from the Bundesliga. I did lose to the Czechs with the U-21s, so I won't be taking this one lightly."
Germany squad
Trapp, Leno, Ter-Stegen; Hector, Ginter, Henrichs, Rudiger, Sule, Kimmich, Hummels; Draxler, Goretzka, Can, Younes, Brandt, Rudy, Ozil, Kroos, Khedira; Werner, Stindl, Gomez, Muller.
Czech Republic vs Germany live stream: potential line-ups
Czech Republic XI: Vaclik; Gebre Selassie, Novak, Kaderabek, Kalas; Dockal, Krejci, Darida, Zmrhal, Soucek; Krmencik
Head coach: Karel Jarolim
Germany XI: Ter Stegen; Hector, Hummels, Rudiger, Kimmich; Can, Rudy, Draxler, Kroos, Ozil; Muller
Head coach: Joachim Löw
Czech Republic vs Germany live stream online: betting
Germany are the clear bookies' favourites this evening, with Joachim Löw's charges valued at €1.40 per euro bet to claim all three points. The hosts, meanwhile, are priced back at €9.
Place your bet on Czech Republic vs Germany here.
