Germans top Group B
Belgium 0-4 Germany
May 3 2006
By Andrew Haigh, Stade Diech, Ettelbruck.
Favourites Germany top Group B after they ran
out 4-0 winners against debutants Belgium.
Two goals in either half ensured a comfortable victory under the late afternoon sun of Ettelbruck.
Belgium got off to the worst possible start when, on three minutes, captain Cor Gillis netter an own goal.
Toni Kroos' cross across the six yard box was dangerous and under pressure the German attack, Gillis slid in and
directed the ball in to the bottom right of goal.
The Germans looked threatening throughout the first half and could have scored on numerous occasions.
The best chance fell to Timo Gebhart who hit a powerful drive from 25-yards narrowly over the bar on 19 minutes.
The German fans were made to wait until the 35th minute before Manuel Fischer put his team ahead.
After losing the ball, the striker battled to win it back and managed to find Gebhart who coolly laid the ball
back for Fischer to fire home a left-footed strike from 18 yards
Fischer, who is the German's top scorer with eight goals in the tournament so far, could have doubled his tally
for the match three minutes later but his curler rattled the post.
Ten minutes after the break, Gebhart was again involved as his jinky run into the penalty box forced Enrico Peligriti
to hack him down.
Kroos fired home the spot kick in to the bottom right of the goal, sending the Belgian keeper the wrong way.
Germany continued to look assured all over the pitch and wrapped up the game in the final minute of injury time.
Substitute Danny Latza picked up a wonderful long pass to shoot low across goal into the back of the net. |
