Armenia 1-4 Germany: Player ratings as Die Mannschaft ease to victory
Germany rounded off a successful 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign by easing to a 4-1 victory over Armenia in Yerevan on Sunday night.
Hansi Flick's side were the first nation to qualify for next year's showpiece in Qatar back in October - securing top spot in Group J - so the pressure has been off in the November international break.
Having hit the post from close range five minutes in, Chelsea's Kai Havertz opened the scoring with a tap-in after a quarter of an hour. Ilkay Gundogan made it two from the spot on the stroke of half-time after the VAR reviewed a clumsy challenge on Florian Neuhaus in the hosts' penalty area.
Although Armenia threatened on the break, any hope of an upset was extinguished early in the second period when home goalkeeper Stanislav Buchnev inexplicably allowed Gundogan's weak shot through his hands and into the back of the net.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan netted a consolation with his own penalty on the hour mark after a foul by Neuhaus, but he was the villain five minutes later, giving the ball away to Jonas Hofmann as Germany pressed before the Monchengladbach man showed good composure to finish.
The visitors dominated possession for the remainder of the game, but could not add to their tally.
Here's how the Germany players rated...
GERMANY PLAYER RATINGS
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Marc-André ter Stegen (GK) - 6/10 - Waited 21 minutes for his first touch. Beaten from the spot.
Thilo Kehrer (CB) - 7/10 - Looked fairly comfortable in a back three, although had to be aware of the threat of Khoren Bayramyan.
Mathias Ginter (CB) - 7/10 - Really comfortable on the ball and helped Germany play out from the back.
Jonathan Tah (CB) - 8/10 - Very solid, watchful and wary of Armenia's threat on the break.
2. Wing-backs & midfielders
Jonas Hofmann (RWB) - 8/10 - Excellent delivery to assist Havertz's opener. Able to get forward at will and pose a threat, getting his reward with a well-taken goal of his own.
Florian Neuhaus (CM) - 7/10 - Neat and tidy in the middle. Clattered to eventually win the penalty after a VAR check. Slightly clumsy to then concede a spot-kick after the break. Booked and subbed.
Ilkay Gundogan (CM) - 8/10 - Intelligent forward passing caused Armenia all sorts of problems. Cool as you like from the spot for 2-0.
David Raum (LWB) - 7/10 - Looked pretty good at wing-back. Like Hofmann, got forward well.
3. Forwards
Kai Havertz (RF) - 8/10 - Hit the post in the opening exchanges, should have scored. Opened the scoring with a deft finish after a quarter of an hour. Willing runner and a threat throughout, but couldn't add to his tally.
Thomas Muller (CF) - 7/10 - Involved in the build-up to the first and got a simple assist for Gundogan without ever really being involved that much. Subbed.
Leroy Sané (LF) - 7/10 - Started brightly. Forced a good save in the first half before fading somewhat. Subbed.
4. Substitutes
Lukas Nmecha (CF) - 6/10 - Different proposition up top, but couldn't make anything happen.
Maximilian Arnold (CM) - 6/10 - Booked, but neat and tidy in possession.
Julian Brandt (AM) - 7/10 - Buzzed about, looking to make something happen.
Kevin Volland (LF) - 6/10 - Tried to get involved and might well have scored from close range.
Ridle Baku (RWB) - N/A