Thomas Muller hits brace as Germany win, Robert Lewandowski hat-trick helps Poland sink Denmark

ByReuters

Updated 08/10/2016 at 21:44 GMT

Thomas Muller scored twice for the second World Cup qualifier in a row to lead dominant Germany to a comprehensive 3-0 win over Czech Republic on Saturday.

Germany's midfielder Toni Kroos (C) is congratulated by Germany's midfielder Sami Khedira (L) and Germany's midfielder Thomas Mueller (R) after scoring the 2-0 during the 2018 World Cup qualifier football match of Germany vs Czech Republic in Hamburg, nor

Image credit: AFP

Toni Kroos was also on target to leave the world champions with six points from two games in Group C, alongside Azerbaijan, and firmly on course for the finals in Russia in 2018.

The Czechs, who have one point, won 3-0 on their last visit to Germany in 2007 in the early days of coach Joachim Loew's long reign but never threatened a repeat.

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The hosts needed only 13 minutes to break the deadlock when Mario Goetze burst down the left, his pass into the area was touched on by Mesut Ozil and Mueller scored with a shot which took a deflection off a defender.

Germany, who beat Norway by the same score in their opening qualifier last month, continued to carve open the Czech defence with neat interchanges between Mueller, Ozil, Julian Draxler and Goetze who was playing as a false number nine.

Draxler pinged a shot just wide after Goetze pulled the ball back to him, Mueller saw a low drive turned away by Czech goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik, then Goetze dinked the ball wide after a one-two with Mueller.

Kroos doubled Germany's lead four minutes after the restart when he got in front of his marker and placed a sidefooted shot past Vaclik after Joshua Kimmich rolled the ball across the edge of the area.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made his first save in the 63rd minute when he parried Borek Dockal's powerful effort and the home team struck again two minutes later, Mueller turning in Jonas Hector's low cross at the near post.

A hat-trick by deadly finisher Robert Lewandowski lifted Poland to a 3-2 victory over Denmark in a thrilling World Cup Group E qualifier on Saturday.

A packed 56,000 crowd at the National Stadium in Warsaw saw the home team go in front in the 20th minute when Kamil Grosicki delivered a cross and Lewandowski scored from close range.

Poland kept attacking, mainly down the wings, and Lewandowski made it 2-0 with a penalty nine minutes before halftime after full back Jannik Vestergaard brought down Arek Milik.

The Bayern Munich marksman's third goal came at the start of the second half when he pounced on a clearance by Vestergaard.

Poland's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring against Denmark

Image credit: Reuters

Denmark pulled one back in the 49th minute as Poland's Kamil Glik turned the ball past his own keeper, Lukasz Fabianski.

The visitors then suddenly started to dominate possession and it was no surprise when lively substitute Yussuf Poulsen netted in the 69th minute.

However, with playmaker Christian Eriksen tightly marked by Poland's defenders, Denmark were unable to draw level.

Poland are joint top of the group, alongside Montenegro and Romania, with four points from two matches. The Danes are fourth on three points.

Slovenia's Rok Kronaveter scored his first international goal with his first touch of the ball after coming on as a substitute to give his side a 1-0 home win over Slovakia in a scrappy World Cup Group F qualifier on Saturday.

Slovenia's Rok Kronaveter (2nd R) celebrate a goal

Image credit: Reuters

The 29-year-old midfielder, who replaced Jasmin Kurtic in the 72nd minute, took a Josip Ilicic pass in his stride and side-footed home a sublime shot from the edge of the penalty area two minutes later.

The result left Slovenia on four points from two games after their opening 2-2 draw in Lithuania while the Slovakians, who were beaten by England 1-0 at home, have none.

The two sides produced a largely tepid match with chances few and far between in a contest littered with ugly fouls and yellow cards at the Stozice stadium.

Slovenia keeper Jan Oblak kept out a Robert Mak sitter in the 38th minute before Roman Bezjak rattled the crossbar at the other end on the stroke of half-time.