Germany and Andre Schurrle crush Azerbaijan hopes

Germany extended their winning run in their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-1 win over Azerbaijan as Andre Schurrle scored twice.

Azerbaijan fell behind to an Andre Schurrle opener, but hit back with a surprise Dimitrij Nazarov equaliser.

Despite Azerbaijan's solid defending, Germany quickly added two more, first with Thomas Muller, and then just before half-time with Mario Gomez.

In the second half, Germany continued to probe but a much less adventurous home side sat deep, and they made it five wins out of five when Schurrle rifled in a late fourth.

Are Germany a better team now than when they won the World Cup? They have so many young, impressive players like Leroy Sane and Joshua Kimmich coming through, that it appears their only worry is the lack of a genuinely world class striker. Mario Gomez, mind, is doing all he can to make that a minor concern.

Andre Schurrle (Germany): It's understandable that Jose Mourinho wasn't convinced by a limited, lightweight Schurre, but he has continued to improve and was the most effective forward on the pitch for Germany. His two methods of dealing with essentially the same chance in the match illustrated his composure and calm finishing.

Azerbaijan: Agayev 6, Pashayev 6, Hüseynov 6, Sadygov 6, Mirzabekov 6, Amirguliyev 6, Garayev 5, Ismaylov 5, Hüseynov 5, Nazarov 7, Sheydaev 5. Subs: Yilmaz 6, Gurbanov 6, Eddy 6.

Germany: Leno 6, Kimmich 7, Höwedes 6, Hummels 6, Hector 7, Khedira 6, Kroos 6, Müller 7, Draxler 5, Schürrle 8, Gomez 7. Subs: Ozil 4, Sane 6, Rudy 6.

19' - GOAL! Azerbaijan 0-1 Germany. Schurrle scores - A fluid attack move sees the ball worked to Hector on the left wing, and he fizzes a shot inside for Schurre to side-foot a pass into an empty net.

31' - GOAL! Azerbaijan 1-1 Germany. Nazarov scores - The ball is flung out to Nazarov, and he's totally unmarked. He checks inside, into the box, and strokes a shot past Leno with a calm finish.

36' - GOAL! Azerbaijan 1-2 Germany. Muller scores - Azerbaijan break, but it's won back on the left wing by Schurrle, who promptly slips in Muller. He rounds the 'keeper and slips in his shot.

45' - GOAL! Azerbaijan 1-3 Germany. Gomez scores - More patient build-up from Germany, it's flicked out to Kimmich, and he picks out Gomez to head the ball back from the way it came, into the top corner.

56' - SCHURRLE SHOT - Germany are pressing high up the pitch again. The ball is worked to Schurrle just inside the box, and his shot flicks off a defender and just a yard wide.

81' - GOAL! Azerbaijan 1-4 Germany. Schurrle scores - Hector, after a wonderful passing move from Germany, picks out Schurrle to his right. He steadies himself with a touch, and rifles it into the top corner.

All of the substitutes that Germany used had four letters in their surname.

Germany have won five games out of five and have conceded just one goal so far.