Marco Reus and Serge Gnabry starred with two goals apiece as Germany hammered Estonia 8-0 in Mainz on Tuesday to maintain its 100 per cent start to Euro 2020 qualifying.
Coach Joachim Low was absent again — having also missed the win over Belarus — due to an injury sustained in a "sporting accident" last month, but Estonia was so poor his unavailability was barely noticed in an emphatic win led by Reus and Gnabry.
The Borussia Dortmund star opened the scoring early on and also got Germany's spectacular fifth, with Gnabry, Leon Goretzka and Ilkay Gundogan netting in between. After scoring five in the first half for the first time since thrashing Brazil 7-1 at the 2014 World Cup, Germany appeared to ease off a little in the second 45, though Gnabry got himself a second, before Timo Werner and Leroy Sane rounded things off.
Germany remains three points behind Group C leader Northern Ireland, which has played a game more.
Read | Marcus Sorg: Leading Germany felt strange
Germany began with a swagger and carved Estonia open 10 minutes in, as Thilo Kehrer played a low first-time cross into the box from the right and Reus found the roof of the net.
Gnabry converted soon after with an easy close-range finish from Sane's squared pass, and Goretzka got in on the act with 20 minutes played, meeting Joshua Kimmich's lofted delivery with a glancing header into the bottom-left corner.
Joonas Tamm impeded Goretzka's off-the-ball run in the box a few moments later to concede a penalty, which Gundogan confidently dispatched. And Reus made it 5-0 close to half-time — his gorgeous 30-yard free-kick finding the top-right corner.
After something of a lull, Germany resumed the battering and increased the deficit just past the hour, with Gnabry tapping in from Marcel Halstenburg's low delivery. Werner — introduced for Reus in the 66th minute — beat the approaching Sergei Lepmets with a clever chip towards the end, and Sane wrapped things up with a curling finish despite appearing to stray offside.
What does it mean? Professional Germany at their brutal best
A lot of questions have been asked of Germany in the last year, with the World Cup post-mortem seeing many players ditched. With fresh faces and lots of youth, Die Mannschaft are looking like themselves again.
Estonia were never likely to pose much of a threat, but it is three wins from three games now in Euro 2020 qualifying and their ruthlessness in Mainz is worthy of praise itself.
Rolls-Reus effortlessly leads the line
The central figure of Germany's attacking trident, Reus swiftly made his mark with a poacher's effort for the first. His hold-up and link play were strong, as he knitted attacks together, while the free-kick for his second goal was glorious.
A nightmare for Tamm
Germany attacked relentlessly and Tamm – one of Estonia's three centre-backs – struggled to cope. He did not help himself for the penalty, however, needlessly inviting Goretzka to go to ground.
What's next?
Germany face Netherlands when they return to Euro 2020 qualifying in September, with Low expected to be back on the touchline. Estonia will be hoping to end their run of defeats when they host Belarus in three months' time.
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