Germany beat Poland

Germany 3-1 Poland

(Müller 12', Götze 19', 82‘ – Lewandowski 37')

In a thrilling end-to-end encouter in Frankfurt, Germany overcame Poland with a vital brace from forgotten man Mario Götze. Thomas Müller opened the scoring before Götze doubled the lead. Bayern Munich team-mate Robert Lewandowski pulled Poland back into the game, before Götze sealed the win late on.

The World Champions looked nervous in the opening minutes, as miss-placed passes hindered any attacking threats. But it was just the second warm-up that the players needed, before Germany's stars began to tick into motion.

Jonas Hector and Karim Bellarabi exchanged in a neat one-two on the left corner of the box, with Hector being played in behind the Polish defense. The full-back looked up and found Thomas Müller alone to tap in his 28th international goal for the lead.

Seven minutes later and the lead was doubled, with Hector once again involved, as he passed inside for Mario Götze - starting as the lone striker - who strolled past Grzegorz Krychowiak before smashing home past Lukasz Fabianski at the near-post.

Few chances followed for Germany despite being in control of the match at this point, before Poland showed that the game was not over. Kamil Grosicki was found with a long-pass on the left-wing and after a superb touch, the winger produced a world-class cross to pick out Lewandowski, who dived to head past his Bayern team-mate Manuel Neuer.

Poland was back in the game and should have been level before the break. A clearance from Neuer only went as far as Krychowiak, who headed forward to put Lewandowski in a one-on-one situation. The Bayern goalkeeper stood tall and produced an outstanding save to deny the Pole. Lewandowski had a header cleared off the line by Götze just before Germany was saved by the half-time whistle.

Just enough in Frankfurt

Borussia Dortmund's in-form midfielder Ilkay Gündogan was introduced just after the restart and made an instant impact. He couldn't make his mind up on whether to pass or shoot, though, before Krychowiak came to clear. Moments later and Götze almost restored Germany's two-goal cushion, but his curling effort struck the outside of the post.

Neuer was also being kept busy, as he saved from Lewandowski and Grosicki. But the majority of the second-half action was spent in Poland's half. Müller almost pocked home from a goal-mouth-scramble, before the ball was cleared and Mats Hummels forced an outstanding low save from Fabianski with a header.

Germany remained in control of proceedings but always looked in need of a third goal to seal the victory. With eight minutes to play, that goal was secured. Müller's deflected strike forced Fabianski to save, but an aware Götze was quickest to follow up and finish into an empty net.

The win takes Germany two points above Poland at the top of Group D, with Germany's next qualifying match taking place on Monday, in Glasgow, against Scotland. It was a poor night for Germany's next opponents, who lost 1-0 in Georgia, whilst the Republic of Ireland strolled past Gibraltar in the other match in Group D.