Bastian Schweinsteiger's clever touch and superb finish inspired Germany to a routine 3-0 victory away to Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifier on Friday.
While Kazakhstan looked up for the fight in the opening minutes of the contest, doing their best to harry their opponents, the gulf in class between the two was obvious from the off.
And the Germans finally made the breakthrough in the 21st minute at the Astana Arena through a sublime skill from Schweinsteiger.
Mesut Özil played a pass across the box to Schweinsteiger, who flicked the ball up and over his defender before firing in a right footed half-volley.
It appeared to take the slightest deflection off teammate Thomas Müller, but Schweinsteiger claimed it nonetheless.
Mario Götze doubled the lead just two minutes later before Müller added a third with 14 minutes remaining.
"I think I'll give him 20 percent of the first goal," Müller said after he and Schweinsteiger watched the goal replay.
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| Germany player Bastian Schweinsteiger controls the ball before scoring against Kazakhstan Photo: Reuters |
While Kazakhstan looked up for the fight in the opening minutes of the contest, doing their best to harry their opponents, the gulf in class between the two was obvious from the off.
And the Germans finally made the breakthrough in the 21st minute at the Astana Arena through a sublime skill from Schweinsteiger.
Mesut Özil played a pass across the box to Schweinsteiger, who flicked the ball up and over his defender before firing in a right footed half-volley.
It appeared to take the slightest deflection off teammate Thomas Müller, but Schweinsteiger claimed it nonetheless.
Mario Götze doubled the lead just two minutes later before Müller added a third with 14 minutes remaining.
"I think I'll give him 20 percent of the first goal," Müller said after he and Schweinsteiger watched the goal replay.
