Serge Gnabry (l.) scored a hat-trick on his full international debut for Germany. - © © imago / ActionPictures
Serge Gnabry (l.) scored a hat-trick on his full international debut for Germany. - © © imago / ActionPictures

Gnabry hits hat-trick as Germany ease to win over San Marino

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Reigning world champions Germany took another step towards qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with a comfortable 8-0 victory away to European minnows San Marino.

San Marino 0-8 Germany

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Goals: 0-1 Khedira (7'), 0-2 Gnabry (9'), 0-3 Hector (32'), 0-4 Gnabry (58'), 0-5 Hector (65'), 0-6 Gnabry (76'), 0-7 (o.g. Stefanelli 82'), 0-8 Volland (86')

Germany coach Joachim Löw reshuffled his side for the visit to San Marino, and handed full debuts to SV Werder Bremen's Serge Gnabry and Bayer 04 Leverkusen youngster Benjamin Henrichs. The two newcomers settled in quickly as the visitors overwhelmed their hosts, who fielded several semi-professional players, and went ahead through early goals from Sami Khedira and Gnabry. Jonas Hector added a third just after the half-hour mark to give Germany a comfortable lead at the break.

It was one-way traffic after the interval too, as Germany patiently probed around a crowded home penalty area. Their efforts were rewarded as the hosts began to tire, with Gnabry scoring two more and Hector also grabbing another on a miserable evening for San Marino. An own goal from Mattia Stefanelli and a late strike by substitute Kevin Volland further highlighted the gulf in class between the two sides.

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- © gettyimages / Alexander Hassenstein