Germany make timely return to form

Germany guaranteed a strong top-two placing in Group 9 alongside Israel after matching their rivals tonight by winning comfortably, 3-0 against Northern Ireland in Wuppertal.

Goal difference
With Israel thrashing Luxembourg 5-0, Germany's defeat of the Northern Irish, earned by strikes from Toni Kroos, Daniel Halfar and Dennis Aogo, kept them level on points with Israel but ahead on goal difference. Pole position, and certain progress to the qualifying play-offs, will be determined when the two pacesetters meet in Duisburg on Tuesday.

Impressive showing
A 2,000-strong crowd saw Dieter Eilts's side dominate from the start, despite the absences of Aaron Hunt, Ashkan Dejagah, Baris Özbek, Patrick Ebert and Florian Fromlowitz through illness or injury. FC Bayern München striker Kroos, making his U21 debut, set the tone with a stunning eleventh-minute free-kick. Kroos was also involved when Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffey was unable to hold on to his shot in the slippery conditions, enabling Halfar to slot in the second goal. Germany's supremacy was underlined just past the hour as Aogo fired in a low drive from 25 metres. The display was a marked return to form from a team surprisingly beaten in Moldova in their previous outing.