Germany are now just one win away from securing their Brazil 2014 berth after a 3-0 win at 10-man minnows the Faroe Islands in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier.
Germany stay five points clear at the top of Group C, but Sweden’s 1-0 win over Kazakhstan earlier in the day means that, despite dropping two points in eight games, the Germans must beat the Republic of Ireland in Cologne next month to confirm automatic qualification.
A single first-half strike by Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker was all Germany had to show for 74 minutes of endeavour until his Gunners’ team-mate Mesut Ozil netted a late penalty.
Bayern Munich’s Thomas Mueller then added a third in the dying stages.
The hosts from the remote north-west Atlantic archipelago, ranked 175th in the world compared to the second-placed Germans, succumbed to their eighth straight defeat in the group, but produced some dogged resistance.
Joachim Loew’s Germany are not the first team to have laboured against the islanders of late.
Italy won only 1-0 here in a Euro 2012 qualifier, while Sweden needed a 75th-minute winner from Zlatan Ibrahimovic to seal a 2-1 away win last October in the same group.
Germany have now won all four of their matches against the Faroe Islands, who were only granted FIFA membership in 1988, but Loew’s side made hard work of the win on the artificial pitch at Torshavn’s Torsvollur stadium.
After going close in the first half, Germany’s chances dried up in the second half before the two late goals.
The Faroes got off to a bright start, threatening the German goal after just 40 seconds, but the hosts’ midfielder Suni Olsen hit his own crossbar at the other end moments later when clearing a cross from Germany’s Julian Draxler.
Germany were denied a penalty when Lithuanian referee Gediminas Mazeika waved play on after midfielder Johan Davidsen barged Ozil off the ball after eight minutes.
Miroslav Klose then hit the post just before his side took the lead when Mertesacker tapped home after his centre-back partner Jerome Boateng had headed on an Ozil cross on 22 minutes.
Faroe defender Pol Justinussen picked up the game’s first booking five minutes before the break when he scythed down Germany captain Philipp Lahm.
The visitors doubled their lead 16 minutes from time, and the hosts were reduced to 10 men, when Faroes defender Atli Gregersen was sent off for the slightest of touches on Mueller before Ozil drilled home the resulting spot-kick.
Mueller then fired home on 84 minutes after finishing a pass from Lahm and Germany can now wrap up qualification against Ireland on October 11 before heading to Stockholm to face Sweden four days later in their final qualifier.
Off-key Germany see off 10-man Faroe Islands
