Germany beats Georgia

Following a loss to Poland, a home draw with Ireland and their average showing mid-week against Australia, Joachim Löw's team will be pleased have returned to winning ways on Sunday night. It was no stellar performance, but the Nationalelf did enough to win comfortably against a weak Georgian team in the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena.

Germany started positively when Marco Reus smashed his first shot on goal off the crossbar after just five minutes. Reus also skewed another early attempt left of goal. The Germans dominated the the first period of the game, but their shots were mainly off-target until late in the half.

In the 39th minute, Mario Götze pushed forward towards the edge of the penalty area, before the ball fell to Reus. This time the Dortmund star hammered it into the bottom left corner to break the ice.

Things were so quiet for Germany's national team keeper Manuel Neuer that he even managed a throw in, in his typical sweeper-keeper style.

Before the break Thomas Müller doubled Germany's lead with his 28th career goal for Die Mannschaft. His strike, which deflected off a defender, left Georgian keeper Giorgi Loria with no chance.

Germany consolidates

The second half was without any major chances either for the guests or the hosts, aside from a clear opportunity for Marco Reus, who again hit the woodwork.

Despite the potential importance of goal difference in what is a tight group D, the world champions seemed content to settle for a 2-0 win, and the game petered out.

Neither Lukas Podolski nor Andre Schürrle, both substituted on by Löw late, added any punch against a defensively-oriented Georgian side. Indeed, the second half was notably mostly for the number of (fortunately clothed) spectators who invaded the pitch to give players a hug.

Speaking after the game to German broadcaster RTL, German captain Bastian Schweinsteiger said he was pleased that the team kept a clean sheet.

"In the end it was important that we got the win," Schweinsteiger said. "That's the most important thing against a team like this, that plays with passion."

"We still need to improve against the other opponents in our qualifying group. But we have time to do that and I'm confident we will."

Germany are level with Scotland on points in Group D, behind Poland, who visit the Republic of Ireland in a late match.