Germany crush Latvia 7-1 in strong Euro dress rehearsal

June 7, 2021 Germany's Thomas Mueller reacts [REUTERS]

Germany scored five first-half goals on the way to a 7-1 demolition of Latvia on Monday, completing a successful dress rehearsal for their European Championship campaign starting next week.

With Manuel Neuer becoming the first German keeper to reach 100 caps, the hosts were firing on all cylinders from the start and set a dizzying pace, Thomas Mueller and Kai Havertz going close in the opening 90 seconds.

June 7, 2021 Germany's Timo Werner celebrates scoring their sixth goal with teammates Pool [REUTERS]

Champions League winner Havertz then played a perfect one-two with Robin Gosens who fired home in his first international in the 19th minute.

Goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Mueller quickly made it 3-0, the latter scoring his first goal since his return to the team last month following more than two years out.

The Germans showed none of the conversion problems that had plagued them in recent years and Havertz added another when his shot was deflected into the net by Latvia keeper Roberts Osols.

Serge Gnabry also got on the scoresheet on the stroke of halftime, firing in from a superb Mats Hummels cross before substitute Timo Werner flicked in five minutes after the restart to make it 6-0.

Latvia grabbed a consolation goal through Aleksejs Saveljevs' fierce left-foot strike before Leroy Sane restored the hosts' six-goal advantage with a simple tap-in.

Germany kick off their Euro 2020 group matches against world champions France in Munich on June 15. They also play European champions Portugal and Hungary in Group F.

 

Volleyball and Handball
Chumba back as KCB aim to reclaim continental title in Cairo
By AFP 1 day ago
Sports
Kenya's Munyao gets better of Bekele to win London Marathon
By AFP 2 days ago
Football
Arsenal thrash Chelsea 5-0 to open up Premier League lead
By AFP 2 days ago
Football
Inter Milan seal Scudetto in derby thriller with AC Milan