60′ Substitution Niklas Süle Robin Everardus Gosens
J. Musiala
L. Sané
59′ Substitution Leroy Aziz Sané Jamal Musiala
L. Sané
Goal
56′ THREE FOR GERMANY! The visitors finally take one of their gilt-edged chances, as Sane slots the ball into the top corner from a tight angle and effectively seals maximum points for his nation. It was a composed finish, in contrast to some of his teammates, and Sane’s second vital intervention in the Iceland area. It’s Iceland 0-3 Germany!
L. Goretzka
Assist
56′ Assist Leon Christoph Goretzka
54′ INCREDIBLE MISS! Remarkably, half-time substitute Havertz passes up a golden opportunity to notch Germany’s third goal of the match, slotting the ball wide of the right post when totally unmarked just 10 yards out.
52′ Helgason’s right-footed shot from outside the box flies high and wide to the right, following a through-ball from Johannesson. Iceland are growing in authority and posing much more of a final-third threat.
49′ OFF THE POST! Johann Gudmundsson gets off a thunderous left-footed strike from around 25 yards, but it cannons back into play after flying past a helpless Neuer. Though Albert Gudmundsson taps in the rebound, he is clearly offside. Iceland were so close to getting a goal back!
48′ A tremendous chance to seal the points is spurned by Werner, who virtually passes the ball into Halldorsson’s hands from inside the Iceland area, on the left.
L. Klostermann
J. Hofmann
46′ Hofmann is withdrawn by Flick, who turns to Klostermann to complete the game at full-back.
K. Havertz
S. Gnabry
46′ Gnabry has earned a rest and is replaced for the second half by Havertz.
46′ The players are back out on the turf at Laugardalsvollur, with second half now getting under way.
Following a tiring week’s action, Flick may opt to take advantage of the multiple substitutions available to him early in the second period – offering further invaluable experience to some of his teenage talents, such as Wirtz and Musiala. The hosts, of course, have far fewer options, but may also decide to shake things up if they continue to trail.
In pursuit of a third consecutive qualifying win in the space of a week, Germany could not have wished for a better start, with a delightful passing sequence ending in Gnabry’s early opening goal. That gave the Nationalelf an upper hand which they would never relinquish; extending their advantage to two before the break, even though they could have conceded themselves on a couple of occasions. Undoubtedly, Iceland will need to call upon their indomitable team spirit in the second half, but will that be enough to help overhaul their deficit?
45′ + 1′ HALF-TIME: ICELAND 0-2 GERMANY
45′ Gnabry cleverly tees up Goretzka for a shot, some 25 yards from goal, but his powerful effort is charged down bravely by Fjoluson.
43′ Johann Gudmundsson suddenly finds himself free on the right side of the German box; getting off a sharp shot with the outside of his boot. Neuer, however, has no trouble in diving low to stop the ball sneaking into the bottom corner.
40′ This is the fourth time these two nations have met, with Germany having won two and drawn the other of their previous encounters. Even at this stage, they look well set to retain that unbeaten record against their hosts today.
38′ A rare period of Iceland pressure is summarily snuffed out by Kimmich, as Germany again exert control of proceedings. They appear happy to play keep-ball until half-time.
36′ The set-piece opportunity is wasted by Sane, who fires his effort well over Halldorsson’s bar and into the Icelandic night sky.
35′ Johannesson’s late challenge brings Gundogan crashing to the turf; teeing up an excellently placed free-kick opportunity just on the edge of the area.
33′ Now Bjarnason’s bookable challenge is scrutinised by the VAR, with a potential red card the former Aston Villa man’s alternative fate. However, the referee’s original on-field decision stands.
B. Bjarnason
Yellow Card
32′ Bjarnason receives the first booking of the match for a rugged challenge on Kehrer.
30′ From 20 yards out on the right, Kimmich slips a cute angled ball through for Werner to chase, but the Chelsea striker just cannot connect and the ball drifts out of play for a goal kick.
28′ Sane and Werner combine on the edge of the Iceland area, but spurn the chance to add a third goal to the visitors’ tally by overcomplicating matters and ultimately concede possession.
26′ Gundogan wins a free-kick, from which he tries a lofted through ball, but Werner is caught marginally offside.
J. Kimmich
Assist
24′ A clipped free-kick from the right by Kimmich finds Rudiger in the area, for the centre-back to power in a second Germany goal of the game.
A. Rüdiger
Goal
24′ GERMANY DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! A wonderful driven cross from Kimmich finds Rudiger on the left-hand side of the area, and the Chelsea defender heads in to the opposite side of the net with power and precision. It’s now Iceland 0-2 Germany!
22′ Germany win a free kick for a foul by Albert Gudmundsson on Goretzka, 25 yards from goal on the right of the area.
19′ After today’s early strike, Gnabry has scored 19 goals in 29 games for Germany – equalling Reus as the second-highest scorer in the current squad.
16′ CLOSE CALL! Johannesson is denied by Neuer, who springs low to his right in order to stop a low driven shot from just outside the box. A first test of the game for the Germany goalkeeper.
14′ Gundogan again breaks up a potential Iceland counter-attack with a foul inside the centre circle, and Iceland have a rare spell of possession away from their own defensive third.
12′ Germany are well on top now, with their full-backs well forward and everyone except Neuer occupying the attacking half.
10′ From inside the area, Gundogan scuffs a half-chance straight into the grateful gloves of Halldorsson, who is covering his near post sufficiently to suffocate any danger.
7′ Gundogan brings down Johannesson in the German half, but Iceland cannot capitalise on the subsequent set-piece opportunity.
L. Sané
Assist
4′ Sane was well placed on the left wing to receive the ball from Bayern colleague Kimmich and quickly cut the ball back for Gnabry to slot home the opener.
S. Gnabry
Goal
4′ GERMANY LEAD! Gnabry is on hand to finish off a slick passing move which sliced the Icelandic defence apart with precision and pace; slotting in from close range after Kimmich and Sane combine with devastating effect. Iceland 0-1 Germany!
3′ Kimmich and Sane combine well to carve open the Iceland defence and cut back for Gnabry, who slots into an unguarded net, but the decision on offside goes to the VAR.
2′ Johann Gudmundsson tries a speculative through ball, but Albert Gudmundsson is caught just offside as he tries to latch on to it.
1′ We are off and under way in Reykjavik!
Both sides have now observed the national anthems and are lined up and ready to play.
Germany’s Reus and Baku both miss out today, while teenage talent Musiala is not selected to join his Bayern Munich teammates Sane and Gnabry in the forward line, but is named on the bench. Sane, Werner, Kimmich and Kehrer are the four ever-presents in Hansi Flick’s lineup – each making their third start in a week. Iceland, meanwhile, have opted to keep Andri Gudjohnsen in reserve despite his equalising goal at the weekend, so Albert Gudmundsson again leads the home side’s attack.
SUBS: Kevin Trapp, Florian Neuhaus, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Mahmoud Dahoud, Lukas Klostermann, David Raum, Kai Havertz, Nico Schlotterbeck, Bernd Leno, Karim Adeyemi, Robin Gosens.
GERMANY (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer; Jonas Hofmann, Niclas Sule, Antonio Rudiger, Thilo Kehrer; Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka; Serge Gnabry, Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane; Timo Werner.
SUBS: Runar Alex Runarsson, Andri Fannar Baldursson, Alfons Sampsted, Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson, Andri Lucas Gudjohnsen, Gisli Eyjolfsson, Patrik Gunnarsson, Kari Arnason, Arnor Sigurdsson, Vidar Kjartansson, Gudmundur Thorarinsson, Hjortur Hermannsson.
ICELAND: (4-5-1): Hannes Halldorsson; Birkir Mar Saevarsson, Brynjar Ingi Bjarnason, Ari Freyr Skulason, Jon Fjoluson; Johan Gudmundsson, Birkir Bjarnason, Isak Bergmann Johannesson, Victor Palsson, Thorir Johann Helgason; Albert Gudmundsson.
Iceland, meanwhile, earned their fourth point of the campaign last time out; overcoming a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with North Macedonia. Brynjar Ingi Bjarnason pulled a goal back late on before Andri Gudjohnsen drew them level six minutes from time, as Arnar Vidarsson’s side aim to get back in the race for a playoff place.
Despite an unprecedented defeat to North Macedonia earlier in the process, Germany remain favourites to progress to next year’s finals, and will sit top of Group J after the September triple-header regardless of the result today.
These two nations last met in the opening game of the Qatar 2022 qualification campaign, with today’s visitors coasting to a 3-0 victory in Duisburg last March.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Iceland v Germany in World Cup Qualifying Group J, from Laugardalsvollur in Reykjavik.
R. Gosens
N. Süle