Germany took on Georgia in the final round of Euro 2016 qualification fixtures in Group D requiring just a point to make it to France next year.
After a frustrating first half in Leipzig, the hosts finally went in front thanks to a Thomas Muller penalty, before a standout effort from Georgia skipper Jaba Kankava brought the visitors level.
Thankfully for the Germans, substitute Max Kruse settled any late nerves by making it 2-1 and that is the way things stayed as Joachim Loew's men claimed top spot in the group.
Relive all of the action with our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Good evening everyone and welcome to our live coverage as Germany take on Georgia in Group D of the Euro 2016 qualification stages. The current world champions need a point tonight to guarantee progress, while Georgia are merely playing for pride having already been denied a place in France next year.
Germany should really have secured a finals spot against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday night, but they fell to a shock 1-0 defeat following a memorable strike from Shane Long. That loss away in Ireland brought an end to a five-game wining streak for Joachim Loew's charges in the qualification round.
The Germans had started the qualification process on rather unsteady footing, although some standout form at the back end of last year and this term have meant that they now top the group. They are looking to keep off the challenges of both Poland and Ireland tonight. A draw would ensure that Germany gain at least second spot, while a victory over the travelling Georgians would ensure that they hold first place come the end of the group.
Some team news for you now...
GERMANY STARTING XI: Neuer; Ginter, Boateng, Hummels, Hector; Gündogan, Kroos; Müller, Ozil, Reus; Schurrle
GEORGIA STARTING XI: Revishvili; Lobzhanidze, Kvirkvelia, Kashia, Amisulashvili; Kankava, Navalovski, Kazaishvili, Okriashvili, Kvekveskiri; Gelashvili
GERMANY SUBSTITUTES: Leno, Ter Stegen, Mustafi, Rudy, Schweinsteiger, Can, Bellarabi, Kramer, Volland, Kruse
GEORGIA SUBSTITUTES: Loria, Makaridze, Khizanishvili, Popkhadze, Grigalava, Kakabadze, Merebashvili, Kobakhidze, Dzalamidze, PalavandishvilI, Vatsadze, Tskhadadze
Germany have made just one change from that defeat to the ROI as Andre Schurrle comes in to replace Mario Gotze in attack. The former Chelsea forward will be support up top by an advanced three of Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil and Marco Reus. As the for the visiting side, the key man to watch will be 23-year-old Tornike Okriashvili, who has the abilities to cause some serious problems on the counter.
Germany's home record is pretty impeccable at the moment. As it stands, the Germs have not lost in 21 home qualifiers since a 3-0 defeat by the Czech Republic in October 2007.
Victory for Loew's men tonight will mark their fifth successive win over George. Tonight's travellers have won just one of their last 23 competitive away matches. One of those wins came recently over Gibraltar earlier in the qualification campaign.
An unlikely defeat for the Germans would not exactly spell disaster this evening as they are guaranteed at least a place in the playoffs, but they will be confident of earning three points to finish top of the pile. That could come in handy when the draw for next summer is made later in December.
Here is a quick clip as some of the players arrived in Leipzig earlier this evening:
Let's go, boys! #DieMannschaft #GERGEO pic.twitter.com/gwK7brHRFB
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) October 11, 2015
It will be interesting to see just how this German side responds to that previous defeat against the Republic. Some sections of the press have the Loew's men appeared a touch too arrogant and ultimately complacent on the road.
Muller will be looking to extend his impressive form in the campaign thus far. The Bayern Munich man has scored eight in eight fixtures and will be hoping that he can add to that against Georgia.
Five minutes to go now and it is time for a prediction. The current World Cup holders should have too much for the away side tonight, and I'm backing Germany to see out a comfortable 3-0 victory.
The teams are now out on the pitch as we run through the national anthems.
The Germans will feature in white this evening, while the Georgians are in red.
KICKOFF! The away side get the game underway in Leipzig moving the ball to the back where they are able to win a throw. The visitors then push forward but are forced back by the hosts' pressing.
Germany get their foot on the ball for the first time in the encounter and they seek to move it across the pitch with a touch of class. Kroos sends the ball wide to Ginter, whose cross is headed away. Muller follows up with a driven shot, forcing Revishvili to push away down low.
Ozil looks to make a positive forward run and he comes up trumps by stealing in behind the Georgian defence. He collects the through-ball, but his layoff into Muller is a poor one and the away side are dealt a reprieve.
The hosts are already starting to show that they mean business with some quick forward movement. Things have not quite come off as yet, though, with things breaking down in the final third.
Muller has the ball out on the right and he sends a delivery into the centre of the area for Schurrle, the ball is cleared to Kroos on the edge of the area and he soon shoots wide without testing the away stopper.
CLOSE! Some clever play from Reus earns Germany a free kick from around 40 yards out, leaving Kroos to send the ball into the area. Muller is on the end of the cheeky chip, but he can only flick his tame effort wide of the target without troubling Revishvili.
CLOSE! Boateng shows great timing to steal in and win the ball and he starts a blistering counter attack into the Georgian half. Gundogan finds himself with room on the edge of the area and his shot produces a good stop from the keeper. The Germans soon come back seconds later for another punt, where Reus forces a second standout save from the Georgian stopper down at the bottom corner.
MISS! Some lovely interplay sees Muller flick the ball round the corner for Reus to run in behind. The Dortmund man is free inside the box with just the keeper to beat, but instead lashes horribly over despite the easiest of chances in front of him. Wonderful stuff from Muller to establish the opportunity, though.
At the moment it feels a bit 'not if, but when' as the Germans find themselves in total control in the early stages of this contest. Kroos charges forward this time to show good feet and beat his marker, before his final pass lets him down and Georgia clear.
SAVE! More German dominance now as the hosts work the ball across the face of the Georgian box. Muller eventually feeds in Reus down the right channel, who draws a good stop from Revishvili down at his far post.
Germany are playing some intricate stuff inside the Georgian area, but they are still unable to get through. This time Muller shows just a little too much to his marker and the visitors scramble the ball away. Loew's men have made a terrific start, but will want a goal sooner rather than later.
It is Ozil this time who leads the cavalry forward and he whips a pass out into the path of Ginter on the right. The right-back cuts inside to fire off on goal, though his shot takes a deflection and loops kindly for Revishvili.
This could become a long night for the away side once the first goal eventually goes in... Kroos seeks to get beyond the defence before winning a corner. The delivery finds Kankava at the front post, who is able to head away the danger.
Georgia are able to take the pressure of a little as they earn themselves some possession for the first time in the game. It is not too long before Germany win things back, however, and they probe before finding Ozil, who turns and fires a shot down low that is kept out comfortably by Revishvili.
SAVE! Fantastic from the visitors now as Okriashvili breaks forward to meet a layoff and he sends a snap-shot down towards the bottom-left corner. Neuer comes up trumps, though, with a fantastic reaction save to push the ball away for a corner. That is what quality keepers are all about, nothing to do all game but he provides the goods when called upon.
MISS! What is going on with Reus at the minute? Ozil provides him with a perfect through-ball in behind the right-back to leave the winger free with a sight of goal. With just the keeper to beat, however, he somehow manages to thrash his shot wide without causing any harm for the Georgians.
YELLOW CARD! The Germans move the ball at real pace on the edge of the away area and Navalovsky is booked for a late foul on Kroos. Reus is over the kick, but he sends a tame, curled effort up over the ball and straight into the arms of a grateful Revishvili.
More neat stuff sees Schurrle break free beyond his marker and he throws a cut-back into the path of Reus, only for the pass to get a deflection and allow Georgia to make the clearance. Germany are still in full control, but no goals as yet.
SAVE! Hats off to Revishvili... Ozil chips a clever pass over the defence into the path of Reus, who volleys first time over his shoulder only to be met by a superb diving save from the away keeper. They are somehow managing to keep the home side out, for now at least.
SHOT! Wave after wave continues. Kroos shows good movement with the ball at his feet to beat the defender and find some space on the edge of the area. His shot is straight at Revishvili, though, who is able to save at the first attempt.
The Germans have so far had 61% of the ball, but as yet they have been unable to carve out a goal. They have had some decent chances in the first half, although Georgia will be proud of keeping things level for this long.
HALF TIME: GERMANY 0-0 GEORGIA
A few jeers ring out come the end of the first half, which has been very frustrating for the hosts. They only require a point tonight to seal progression, but going ahead would make things a lot more comfortable for these fans going into the final stages of this clash. As it stands, Germany have had 18 attempts on goal, 10 of which have been on target. That perhaps shows just how irritating that first period has been for Loew's men.
Credit must go to Georgia for holding firm for such a long period following endless German attacks, although the home side have passed up at least five perfect opportunities to go in front.
Reus has been the main culprit so far and he appears to be struggling when put in front of goal. Do not forget that Neuer had to make a brilliant reaction save to deny Okriashvili too. Had that gone in, Germany might have a completely different situation on their hands.
Statistics suggest that Germany have had a whopping 61 dangerous attacks in the first half, but they have been unable to break the deadlock. Will Loew look to change things? Probably not, although he does have a few attacking options on the bench in the shape of Kevin Volland and Max Kruse.
Georgia will be seeking to keep things frustrating for the hosts and might look to break out on the odd counter attack. The visitors have perhaps got a little carried away when in longer spells of possession and have almost been caught out themselves when losing the ball.
Muller has been impressive in the first period, he could quite easily be the man to open the scoring in the second half:
© Getty Images
The players are now making their way back out onto the pitch as we await the start of the second offering of 45. We will be moving again in a minute or so...
KICKOFF! Germany kick things off once more and they move forward through Hector on the left. Georgia hold firm, though, and are able to see the ball away.
The home dominance continues as German move the ball around in the final third. Boateng chips a ball into the centre of the box, leaving Georgia to head clear.
PENALTY TO GERMANY!
GOAL! GERMANY 1-0 GEORGIA (Thomas Muller, penalty)
Finally, we have it! Kankava looks knackered already and he is undone by Ozil's quick feet and is forced to bring the playmaker down inside the area. Muller makes no mistake from the spot by sending the keeper the wrong way before clipping home his ninth of this qualification stage.
SAVE! Out of nowhere Kvekveskiri breaks forward unchallenged and sends a rasping shot towards Neuer's top corner, allowing the keeper to pull out a stunning save for the cameras.
GOAL! GERMANY 1-1 GEORGIA (Jaba Kankava)
Amazing! From the corner the ball is cleared only as far as Georgia skipper Kankava, who makes up for conceding the penalty by lashing a volley with the outside of his boot through the pile of defenders and into Neuer's bottom corner. The away side are back level and in some style...
What do Germany do now? Surely they will want to move ahead once more. That goal just goes to show you that surprises can come from anywhere and the hosts will certainly one at least a one-goal cushion.
CHANCE! Boateng loses possession on the edge of the Georgia box, leaving the visitors to lead a breathtaking counter. The ball makes its way out to Kazaishvili, who manages to wrestle past Hummels before sending his shot over the bar from the middle of the box. Germany were almost undone there.
SAVE! Germany are all over the place at the back. Okriashvili meets a cut-back in the middle and he thinks that he has scored, only to be denied by a reaction fist from Neuer, who leaps at the vital moment to punch over the bar. Is this really going to happen?
Germany respond by pushing down the left, where Ozil scrambles clear to try and feed the ball back into the middle from the byline. Thankfully for the away side, their stopper is out quickly to gather before the danger can present itself.
Reus thinks that he might be in behind the back-line, but the linesman has his flag raised for offside. Things could become very tense if things remain the same with 10 minutes to go...
More neat footwork sees Schurrle come into the box with a glimmer of space. He picks out a sharp volley, but his effort is straight at the Georgia keeper who remains unmoved in the middle of his goal.
Georgia are just packing men inside their own area at the moment and it seems to be working as the German forwards seem a touch stifled. Reus tries something different from range, but Revishvili does just about enough to punch wide for a corner.
YELLOW CARD! Gundogan is first to the free ball and he gets clattered by Okriashvili, who goes into the book for his challenge.
CLOSE! Ozil is over the ball and he sends a brilliant effort into the middle of the box for his teammates to run onto. For some unbeknown reason, nobody is able to get a touch of the ball, leaving it to flash across the face of goal and wide of the back-post for a goal kick.
Gundogan shows great strength to steal the ball and lead a counter. Muller picks up possession before looking for Ozil, who eventually gets crowded out and the move breaks down. Things just are not happening for Loew's charges at the moment. Lots of neat passing, but no real cutting edge.
The jeers are just starting to mount as we approach the final 15 minutes of the contest. Ozil should really shoot, but instead passes the buck to Gundogan, who sees his tame effort fly wide.
SUBSTITUTE: Schurrle is replaced by Max Kruse in attack. You get the sense that Loew wants to take three points from this.
More frustration... Kroos cannot find a way through and is instead forced to try something from range. His effort is poor and flies high and wide without troubling the Georgian stopper.
GOAL! GERMANY 2-1 GEORGIA (Max Kruse)
Continuous short stuff outside the Georgia area ends in Ozil collecting the ball to the left side of the box. With one touch he finds the ball into the feet of Kruse, who gets his effort off on the turn to produce a wonderful curled finish down low past a helpless Revishvili.
Ginter shows important strength on the right flank and he turns in a flashed ball for Muller, who is just about beaten by his marker and Georgia are able to clear. Germany will likely look to take the sting out of this going into the final few minutes.
Gundogan pushes fast towards the away box before producing a brilliant turn to fool the defence and slip in Ozil down the left. The Arsenal man picks out a shot on goal, but his effort gets blocked without troubling Revishvili.
Gundogan again his the ball at his feet and he is able to get past two men inside the area before finally being thwarted as he looks to pull the trigger.
This has hardly been standout stuff from Germany, but they are world champions for a reason. They always seem to get things done and come up with the performances required at the vital moments. Quite the reverse of what England tend to do...
Here is your potential match-winner, Max Kruse:
SUPER SUB! 3 minutes after coming on, Max Kruse sweeps into the bottom-left corner to put Germany in front. #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/XYKVAvnVxL
— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) October 11, 2015
We are going to have three minutes of additional time in Leipzig. Kroos finds some space on the edge of the area, allowing him to bullet a low effort towards the bottom corner. Luckily for Georgia, the shot takes a deflection and flies wide. From the corner, Kruse is given the cut-back, only to send his effort miles over the crossbar.
YELLOW CARD! Hummels goes into the book late on as he seeks to break up a Georgia counter. That card will be void once they have qualified so it might have been worth taking to prevent the danger.
FULL TIME: GERMANY 2-1 GEORGIA
So there we have it, Germany book their place at next year's Euro 2016 tournament in France and also finish top of Group D in the process. They far from made that game easy with some rather lacklustre stuff in the final third, but in typical German fashion they have got the job done when called upon. That is going to be all from me tonight, thank you for joining us!
Written by
Christopher Dodd
Christopher Dodd
Germany
Switzerland
Hungary
Scotland
Spain
Italy
Croatia
Albania
England
Denmark
Slovenia
Serbia
Austria
France
Netherlands
Poland
Romania
Belgium
Slovakia
Ukraine
Portugal
Turkey
Georgia
Czech Republic
