Germany vs Norway Russia World Cup 2018 qualifier: match report, goals, as it happened

Germany 6-0 Norway: match report

Germany ended this one as a contest before it ever had a chance to get going and led 4-0 at half-time before landing another two after the break to remain top of their group and take one step closer to qualifying for the World Cup with a win in their next game taking them to Russia.

After a lacklustre display against Czech Republic on Thursday night that they managed to win thanks to a late Mats Hummels winner, they weren't in the mood for having their nerves tested in the same fashion on Monday in Stuttgart.

Mesut Ozil finished after 10 minutes and Germany never looked back. It was a flowing move by Germany that started at the back and when Jonas Hector pulled it back into Ozil's path, his left foot swung and he made perfect contact, leaving Jarstein stranded in Norway's goals.

The excellent Julian Draxler added the second seven minutes later with a move that started at the back again. A long ball to Werner by Kimmich was headed into Ozil's path and he played it to the PSG man. Draxler swiveled almost on the spot and curled home with his left.

Timo Werner heaped more misery on Norway after 21 mnutes when Kroos found him in the centre after a quick-thinking Mueller stepped over it. Werner slotted home and the game was in the bag as Norway were incapable of moutning even the most token of attacks.

3-0 became 4-0 after 40 minutes when a Thomas Mueller - Timo Werner combo unlocked Norway yet again. This time Mueller crossed from the right and Werner drove a header beyond Jarstein as Norway looked to be in real trouble.

The half-time whistle couldn't come quick enough as Germany looked to keep piling on the pressure as Norway clung on for dear life.

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Leon Goretzka was Joachim Loew's first sub and he had scored within five minutes of the restart when a perfect Draxler cross was met by the sub as he flew through the air.

Germany were home and hosed and the game died a death but Mario Gomez was keen to do something off the bench and he did just that on 79 minutes. Joshua Kimmich sent a cross into the box and the substitute nestled a diving header into the bottom corner. 6-0 with all three points secure for Joachim Loew's side.

Norway's shoulders slumped early on and it wasn't really a true test of Germany's credentials but they are now within a win of qualifying for the World Cup next summer with games to spare and that means Loew can try out different players or hammer home some of the finer points of his already finely-tuned system.

Germany vs Norway live stream online: World Cup Qualifiers

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Germany vs Norway live stream online: World Cup qualifying match preview

Norway travel to the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart to face Germany (Monday, 20:45 CET), who are already assured of at least a playoff place after a perfect campaign so far, with nothing less than three points of any use to Lars Lagerbäck’s side.

With three qualifiers including Monday’s game remaining in Group C the home side will assure automatic qualification for the World Cup in Russia if they beat Norway, who have endured a disappointing campaign to date. Löw’s reigning champions will go through to the finals if they are victorious and Northern Ireland fail to beat the Czech Republic.

Germany

Germany have racked up seven wins from seven games in a typically efficient qualifying phase, scoring 29 times and conceding just twice – although 15 of those goals were scored against San Marino. However, the world champions left it late to maintain their perfect record as an 88^th-minute Mats Hummels goal sealed victory for Löw’s side in Prague at the weekend.

That result leaves Germany requiring just four points from the remaining three fixtures to reach the World Cup as group winners and avoid the playoffs, assuming Northern Ireland also end their campaign with three wins to secure second.

Löw is without some experienced hands including captain Manuel Neuer, the Bayern Munich keeper having only just returned to action after a lengthy injury layoff with a broken metatarsal sustained in the Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid in April. Also missing are Andre Schürrle, Mario Götze, Benedikt Höwedes and Jérôme Boateng, who have a total of 230 caps between them.

Norway

Norway still have an outside chance of qualifying for the playoffs as they meet San Marino in the next round of fixtures and Northern Ireland at home on the final day, but it is one that few but the most diehard Norwegian fans would risk a kroner or two on: Lars Lagerbäck’s side must win their final three games – including beating Germany at home – and make up a 14-goal swing on Northern Ireland in the process.

If only they could play Brazil every week: Norway are famously one of few sides never to have been defeated by the Canarinha but all-too often turn their giant-killing form on its head in qualifying.

Germany strolled to a 3-0 victory when the teams met in Oslo in the opening round of fixtures and Lagerbäck’s charges then conspired to hand Azerbaijan one of only two qualifying wins so far in Baku in a 1-0 loss. San Marino managed their solitary qualifying goal to date at Norway’s expense and were level with 77 minutes played in Oslo – having also provided the home side’s opener on 12 minutes through a Davide Simoncini own goal – before Adama Diomandé, Martin Samuelsen and Joshua King spared a nation’s blushes with a late flurry.

In their last outing Norway through themselves a lifeline with a 2-0 victory in Azerbaijan, albeit courtesy of a King penalty and a Rashad Sadygov own goal.

There is a precedent for what Lagerbäck must mastermind in Stuttgart – a 1-0 away friendly victory in February 2009, the last time the sides met before the 2018 qualifiers. However, Löw and Germany are unlikely to soften their grip on Group C with Russia a victory away depending on the result in Belfast.

Germany vs Norway live stream online: possible line-ups

Germany XI: Ter Stegen; Hummels, Rüdiger, Süle; Hector, Müller, Kroos, Emre Can, Draxler; Werner, Gomez.

Coach: Joachim Löw

Norway XI: Jarstein; Aleesami, Skjelvik, Nodtveit, Svennson; Berge, Johansen; Möller Daehli, Elyounoussi; King, Sörloth.

Coach: Lars Lagerbäck

Germany vs Norway live stream online: selected betting odds

Norway are huge outsiders at 23/1 for victory with the goalscorer stakes dominated by the home side. Timo Werner is favourite to get the scoreboard going at 4/1 while a 4-0 home win is chalked up at just 8/1.

Bet on Germany vs Norway.