PRAGUE: Timo Werner and Mats Hummels both scored as defending champions Germany remained on their uncompromising course to qualify for next year’s World Cup with a 2-1 away victory over the Czech Republic in Group C last night.
Germany are one of only two countries with Switzerland to win all their opening seven qualifying games. They will be guaranteed first place with a home win over Norway on Monday and if second-place Northern Ireland fail to beat the Czechs on the same night.
It will be a must win for the Czechs to maintain any hopes to secure a second-place finish in the group after Northern Ireland won 3-0 at San Marino.
With three games remaining, Germany top the standings with 21 points, followed by Northern Ireland with 16. The Czechs have nine.
Meanwhile, Harry Kane scored a brace to help Gareth Southgate’s lacklustre England to a 4-0 win over minnows Malta.
Kane opened the score early in the second-half but three goals inside the last 10 minutes put a brighter sheen on the result than the performance deserved.
Ryan Bertrand – with a long range effort barely acknowledged by a far from happy looking Southgate – Danny Welbeck and Kane at the death secured the points in Malta and keeps them top of Group F by two points from Slovakia.
However, the English – boasting players whose salaries and transfer fees dwarfed that of their opponents – will need to put up a far better display at home to the Slovakians on Monday.