Khedira sends Germany to the summit

Germany scored six unanswered goals against bottom side Luxembourg to overtake Northern Ireland as qualifying Group 9 leaders.

More punishment
A Sami Khedira hat-trick and strikes from Mesut Özil, Rouwen Hennings and Baris Özbek secured a comprehensive victory and followed up the 7-0 win in Luxembourg in Germany's previous outing in November.

Goal flurry
Perhaps the only surprise was that it took Dieter Eilts's side 28 minutes to break the deadlock, when VfB Stuttgart forward Khedira struck with a deflected shot. Özbek missed a chance to double the lead, so it was the 47th minute by the time Khedira scored again. That began a sequence of four goals in the space of eleven minutes – Özil hit the target when clean through, Hennings converted from a free-kick, before Khedira completed his treble in the 58th minute.

Last word
A Germany team fielding TSG 1899 Hoffenheim goalkeeper Thorsten Kirschbaum rather than regular starter Manuel Neuer then allowed Roland Schaack's visitors to play some football of their own. The final word, though, went to the hosts as Özbek tucked in the rebound from a Hennings shot. It was Germany's fourth win in five matches of this UEFA European Under-21 Championship campaign – Luxembourg were left waiting for their first having played six games.