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Full-time observations:
- Germany played a very good game. Compared to the game in Belfast, this must be seen as a major improvement. Sure, Northern Ireland had nothing to play for, but it was a very impressive German performance.
- Serge Gnabry was faultless today and seemed to be on another level to the rest of the players on the pitch – Joshua Kimmich was fantastic as well in his number 6 roll. Both fullbacks, Jonas Hector and Lukas Klostermann were also very active on their respective sides of the pitch. Toni Kroos was as calm as ever.
- Germany, deservedly, wins the group. It has not been a great performance, but definitively a move in the right direction for Löw’s rebuilding. A young, inexperienced yet exciting team.
- Can’t think of the last time I’ve heard such amazing away support as tonight. Even though their team was chanceless throughout the game, the Northern Irish fans kept on singing. That is what football should be about.
93’— Germany wins the game with 6-1 and thereby wins the group! Great performance from Die Mannschaft!
90’— GOOOOOOAAAAAL! Individual magic from Julian Brandt! Great pass from Kroos who finds Brandt who does a brilliant step-over and a fantastic finish! WOW!
89’— Nothing has happened in the game, I’m just listening to the constant Irish folk song chants on the stands. Goosebumps.
86’— Game has slowed down a bit, a German win has been certain for most of the second-half.
85’— The Northern Irish are still singing as loud as ever...they are losing 5-1 but they don’t care. RESPECT!
80’— Gnabry comes off for Nadiem Amiri - what a game from him - world class.
75’— Second half has purely been epitomised as play against one goal - sure, Northern Ireland has nothing to play for, but Germany has played very well.
72’— GOOOOAL! Go(al)retzka scores yet again and get’s his double! Beautiful finish from the Bayern man - he get’s subbed directly after for Suat Serdar!
69’— Game has slowed down a bit, understandable - Germany looks closer to scoring than Northern Ireland - who hasn’t had anything this second half.
67’— Goretzka gets very close to his second, his shot from outside the 11-yard-box passes just outside Peacock-Farrell’s post.
65’— Stark, who makes his debut, comes on for Klostermann.
63’— Niklas Stark is ready to come on
62’— Can gets close with another long-range shot.
61’— 8 goals in 7 games for Gnabry this qualifying campaign - not bad..
60’— THERE IT IS! GNABRY’S HAT-TRICK! Fantastic goal yet again from a fantastic player. Germany are playing great!
57’— Gnabry comes close to scoring a hat-trick after a nice header, just wide. Great cross from Hector, who is playing very well.
55’— Can tries to shoot, rather selfishly - the ball goes wide.
54’— You can still hear the Northern Irish fans.
53’— Klostermann get’s close but puts it wide - Germany are dominating completely and have the first-spot of the group in their hands.
52’— Kroos forces Peacock-Farrell to a nice save
50’— Germany look in complete control, quite the opposite of the game in Belfast. Very nice to see.
49’— Kimmich has been fantastic today - so has Serge Gnabry.
46’— GOOOOOOOAL!!! SERGE GNABRY!! He scores his second after a great build-up play from the German team! Kimmich is involved in the build-up yet again, passes it to Klostermann who gives it to Gnabry - that man only needs one chance. 3-1!!
46’— Second half is on the way! Germany are 45 minutes from winning the group!
Halftime observations:
- Germany is in control and lets in a goal due to a fantastic individual effort from 31-year-old Hearts defender Michael Smith. The Germans are creative when attacking, albeit fragile when defending. The back-line is very high up the pitch, which is understandable considering the Northern Irish wall at the other side.
- Klostermann has yet again proved his extraordinary talents, he shows why Kimmich is not needed at the right-back position in the national team. Kimmich’s talents are needed higher up the pitch, where he has played very well recently. Jonas Hector has been good as well on the other side of the fullback position.
- Tah and Can have been bad and found themselves in trouble on frequent occasions. Let’s hope that is not Germany’s center-back duo in the Euros.
- Special shoutout to the Northern Irish supporters. The results mean nothing for the Northern Irish side, although their fans have not stopped signing for 45 minutes. On a cold Tuesday night in Frankfurt, that is something you can only admire.
43’— GOOOOOOOAAAAAL FOR GERMANY!!! GORETZKA! Second Bayern player to score this game! Fantastic ball from Kimmich to Hector who finds Goretzka - easy tap in for Goretzka who scores yet again for the national team!
42’— Kroos has a shot from far out - no problem for Peacock-Farrell.
40’— Northern Ireland has successfully stopped Germany’s flow of play in the last five minutes or so.
39’— Game has slowed down a bit. Germany still look in control, even though the score is 1-1.
33’— Klostermann is a real talent - he has been very active and proves why Germany doesn’t need Kimmich in the right-back position. Kimmich, again, has been great as a number 6.
32’— Germany has already had four corners. None particularly successful.
30’— Gnabry has been the man of the match so far - barely has done something wrong. What a talent.
28’— Northern Ireland are dangerous the few times they get up the pitch, Germany’s defence is struggling with the high backline.
25’— The centre-back duo, Can and Tah, find themselves in the wrong positioning many times during the first 25 minutes.
23’— Germany are getting close to a second, a couple of half-chances with only the final touch missing. Second will come soon if they keep this up.
22’— Very entertaining first 20 minutes, fast end to end play with not much midfield play.
21’— If you thought the equaliser would of silenced the Northern Irish fans you would think wrong.
19’— GOOOOOOOAAAAAL FOR GERMANY!!! THE MASTER CHEF! Serge Gnabry scores a fantastic goal - get’s the ball from a nice pass from Hector and turns with his whole body - Gerd Muller would be proud! 1-1!!!
Serge Gnabry continues his strong scoring form to level for Germany.
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 19, 2019
Watch #GERNIR on Sky Sports Premier League or follow here: https://t.co/dkFs67o2J4 pic.twitter.com/juTBkqfR3H
17’— Close to a goal to Germany, this time from a Northern Irish foot - Germany are playing well offensively but look fragile in the back.
15’— Brandt has a shot that is blocked by an Northern Irish head - corner for Die Mannschaft.
14’— Germany are dominating possession and looking dangerous - I can smell an equaliser.
10’— Kroos hits the post with a header! What a fantastic start to the game, Germany are close to an equaliser.
9’— Gnabry has a one-on-one with the goalie but Peacock-Farrell (epic name) makes himself big and saves it!
8’— I’m getting goosebumps listening to these Northern Irish fans.... FANTASTIC!
7’— GOOOOOAAAAL FOR NORTHERN IRELAND!!! What a strike from Michael Smith!! The 31-year-old defender who plays for Hearts in Scotland shocks the Germans to the delight of the many Northern Irish supporters!
⚽️ Michael Smith is the 1️⃣st @OfficialIrishFA player to score an away goal against Germany since @Gerry_Taggart in November 1996 pic.twitter.com/RoyP0JNQl8
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) November 19, 2019
5’— Gundogan does a nice manouvre and finds the ball to Julian Brandt, who can’t control it. Germany are dominating the first 5 minutes.
3’— Germany back-four is high up the pitch, as expected.
2’— Northern Irish fans have arrived for a party, despite it being a glorified friendly for them. Respect.
0’— Kickoff in Frankfurt! Germany play with a strong team, Jögi Löw is determined to top the group.
German lineup:
TEAM
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) November 19, 2019
Here's tonight's Germany line-up to face @NorthernIreland #DieMannschaft #GERNIR pic.twitter.com/AynLm5kpjo
Northern Irish lineup:
Here's our starting line-up to face @DFB_Team_EN in our final @UEFAEURO 2020 Group C qualifier! #GAWA pic.twitter.com/Y28AtQbmqR
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) November 19, 2019
In their final international game of 2019, Germany take on Northern Ireland at the Commerzbank Arena. Since the Germans have already qualified for the Euros, this will be a great opportunity to try out lesser players and non-starters in the lineup, like Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Let's hope that there are no injuries, and Die Mannschaft has a good game.
Match Info
Location: Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany
Time: 8:45 pm local time, 2:45 pm EST
TV/streaming: ESPN+ (affiliate link) Fubo.tv, Find Your Country
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