Match awards for Germany’s 6-1 victory over Northern Ireland

After conceding first against Northern Ireland, Germany ended up dominating the match and winning 6-1. The goal fest saw the familiar faces of Bayern Munich’s own Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka net a hat-trick and a brace respectively. Joachim Löw rotated the squad heavily swapping Marc-Andre ter Stegen in for Manuel Neuer in goal. Emre Can also started at center-back returning from suspension after his red card, as well as Jonathan Tah, who returned to the back line after spells of injury and illness.

Jersey swap: Michael Smith

Northern Ireland’s Michael Smith opened up the scoring in the 7th minute. The Scottish Premiership player scored by collecting a poor clearance and shooting a brilliant low-driven shot from deep outside of the box. Ter Stegen could not get a hand to it as the ball rolled in the low corner.

Tip of the Cap: Jonas Hector

Jonas Hector has tough competition at left-back with Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schulz and RB Leipzig’s Marcel Halstenberg. Hector made the best out of his opportunity to start, getting two assists to open up Germany. In the final third, he was able to pick out Gnabry who cleanly turned and got a shot off for a goal. For his other assist, Hector just crossed the ball into a dangerous area for Leon Goretzka to finish.

Golf Clap: Joshua Kimmich

Joshua Kimmich played the full 90 minutes in both the central midfield and at right-back. He was able to help control the midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Ilkay Gündogan to form a brilliant midfield trio. Kimmich stood out as the best midfield player both with his stellar defending and his incisive passes that led to multiple goals for Germany.

Standing Ovation: Leon Goretzka

Leon Goretzka has returned from injury and been in a spectacular run of form. After scoring against Belarus in Germany’s last European Cup Qualifier, Goretzka doubled his tally and scored a brace in today’s game. Goretzka played out of position tonight in an attacking role almost as a right forward. At times he looked out of place there but nailed his chances when they came to him. He scored a great tap-in goal off the post from a Jonas Hector cross. He also found some space on top of the box later in the match and was able to send a shot in low past the keeper.

Meister of the Match: Serge Gnabry

Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry continued his brilliant form for Germany by scoring a hat-trick. The winger played in a free role that saw him both occupying a central position and playing wide on the left and the right. Gnabry’s deadly goal-scoring accuracy as well as his creative and athletic ability were on full display. He scored in a variety of ways and looked like he did during his brilliant four-goal game against Tottenham.

Serge Gnabry is looking more and more comfortable when he plays centrally and is proving himself as a reliable goal-scorer. He had now scored 13 goals in his first 13 caps for Germany.