Solid win gets Germany going

Germany began their UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals campaign in ominously impressive style with a 4-0 victory against Belgium in Ettelbruck.

Gendarme misfortune
Bernd Stöber's team were quickly into their stride at the Deich stadium and fashioned a way through the Belgium defence with barely two minutes played. Toni Kroos evaded his marker down the left and played in a low cross which luckless defender Lionel Gendarme turned into his own net under pressure from Timo Gebhart. Germany captain Björn Kopplin might have added a second in the fifth minute but his shot from the edge of the area flew over the crossbar, although at the other end a low centre from Axel Witsel might have provided an equaliser.

Fischer prize
That proved to be a lone bright spark for Belgium in the first half. Goalkeeper Tom Vandenbossche made a fine stop to keep out Gebhart's rising drive in the 20th minute after Lars Bender and Kroos had undone the Belgium defence once more, before Kroos curled a free-kick through the wall but wide of the right-hand upright. It was 2-0 six minutes before half-time, however, as Manuel Fischer regained possession after losing the ball and found Gebhart before lashing the return pass into the bottom corner.

Second-half strikes
The situation might have become even worse for Belgium when the ever-threatening Fischer latched on to Bender's pass only for his effort to come back off the post. There was no such luck for Eric Abrams's players ten minutes into the second period, though, as Gebhart was felled in the area and Kroos sent Vandenbossche the wrong way from the penalty spot. Danny Latza added a final flourish in the closing seconds, dancing clear and placing a fourth beyond Vandenbossche to crown a fine afternoon's work for his side.