Germany fired six past Norway while England fought back after an early scare to beat Slovakia in European World Cup qualifying on Monday. Timo Werner scored a double in Germany's 6-0 rout of the Norwegians in Stuttgart to leave Joachim Loew's world champions with a perfect eight out of eight record atop Group C.
But with second-placed Northern Ireland beating the Czech Republic 2-0 in Belfast Germany will have to wait until their next match, away to the Irish on October 5, to seal automatic qualification to Russia. Werner, booed by his own fans in Germany's 2-1 win in Prague against the Czechs last Friday, came off to a standing ovation this time after netting in the 21st and 40th minutes.
After struggling to beat the Czechs, this was a far more polished performance, with Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil's 10th minute opener sparking the rout. Paris Saint-Germain star Julian Draxler netted the second with Werner's brace putting them four goals up at the break.
Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka grabbed Germany's fifth with Werner's replacement, the 32-year-old veteran Mario Gomez, rounding off a productive night. Victory sent England five points clear of Slovakia in Group F - Gareth Southgate's side need only two points from their last two games against Slovenia and Lithuania to seal qualification. Elsewhere, Poland held on to the Group E summit, beating Kazakhstan 3-0, with Denmark going second on the strength of a 4-1 win in Armenia.
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