Volland double helps Germany defeat Denmark

• Germany go top of Group A with 3-0 defeat of Denmark at Eden Stadium
• Kevin Volland scores either side of half-time for 2009 U21 champions
• FIFA World Cup-winning defender Matthias Ginter makes it 3-0 with second-half header
• Horst Hrubesch's side inflict heaviest ever final tournament defeat on Danes
• Next matches: Czech Republic v Germany, Denmark v Serbia (Tuesday)

Germany have the UEFA European Under-21 Championship semi-finals in their sights following an impressive 3-0 win against Denmark in Prague.

Though Hrubesch could not have been clearer in his desire to see Germany start quicker than they did against Serbia on matchday one, it was the Danes who threatened first. Pione Sisto could have picked up from where he left off on Wednesday but lacked composure when presented with a chance to test Marc-André ter Stegen. Yussuf Poulsen was similarly wasteful not long later when put through by Nicolaj Thomsen.

Germany, though, were gradually starting to crank through the gears, captain Volland taking much of the burden on his suitably broad shoulders. The TSV 1860 München man had shown delightful vision to tee up Leonardo Bittencourt, who snatched at his shot, before definitively grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck with a smart finish past the advancing Jakob Busk following Emre Can's slide-rule pass.

Amin Younes, agonisingly close with an earlier solo effort, was then on the receiving end of more tireless build-up play from Volland but again missed the target.

The interval did little to slow Germany’s acceleration, for they had doubled their lead three minutes into the second half thanks to Volland's delightfully weighted free-kick from 25 metres out. Indeed Hrubesch's team were soon into overdrive, Ginter swooping to head in Younes's cross just five minutes later.

Max Meyer, Volland and Younes all went close to making it 4-0 but it mattered not; Group A is wide open going into matchday three.