Germany vs. Gibraltar: Score, Grades and Reaction from Euro 2016 Qualifier

Germany continued Euro 2016 qualifying with a routine 4-0 victory at home over minnows Gibraltar on Friday evening at the Grundig-Stadion in Nuremberg.

Thomas Muller scored twice and Mario Gotze added another as the defending World Cup champions stormed to a 3-0 lead by half-time. Gibraltar substitute Yogen Santos turned the ball into his own net midway through the second half for Germany's fourth and final goal.

The win will come as no surprise, but Germany might have expected to score more goals against such unfancied opposition. Regardless, collecting three points will help Germany put their Euro 2016 campaign back on track following a loss to Poland and a draw with the Republic of Ireland in their previous two qualifiers.

Having recorded the easy win against Gibraltar, Joachim Low's side now sit on seven points through four matches, three behind Group D leaders Poland. The top two teams in each group will automatically qualify for the Euro 2016 finals in France.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Germany's next qualifier is scheduled for March 29, 2015, at Georgia.

Gibraltar, who are taking part in European Championship qualifying for the first time, sit at the bottom of Group D with no points. Facing Germany, the four-time World Cup champions and three-time European Championship winners, Gibraltar's primary aim was likely to limit the damage in the inevitable defeat.

Not surprisingly, Germany dominated from the opening whistle, laying siege immediately to Gibraltar's box. But for all their dominance, the hosts needed a mistake on the part of Gibraltar goalkeeper Jamie Robba to open the scoring.

That mistake came in the 11th minute, after Karim Bellarabi freed Shkodran Mustafi down the right flank. Mustafi crossed from near the byline toward the near post, where Robba misjudged the trajectory of the ball. After bouncing off the upright, the ball fell to Muller, who volleyed in with his first touch.

Leading 1-0, Germany added two more goals before half-time. 

The second goal arrived in the 29th minute. Gotze started the move this time, picking out Lukas Podolski on the left flank. Podolski crossed back into the middle for Muller, who finished with the easiest of tap-ins.

Gotze turned goalscorer in the 38th minute, slotting coolly past Robba after playing a one-two pass with Max Kruse along the edge of the box.

That put Germany ahead 3-0, and by that point the only question left seemed to be how many the hosts would score. But Gibraltar came close to a goal of their own just before half-time, nearly shocking Germany in the 45th minute.

Michael Probst/Associated Press

Running onto a quick throw-in, Gibraltar midfielder Liam Walker spotted an opening and tried a volleyed shot from long distance. Manuel Neuer initially appeared beaten, but the Germany goalkeeper scrambled back to claw the ball away. The shot and save drew cheers from the German crowd.

Much like in the opening half, Germany needed time and help to score their first of the second half. The goal came in the 67th minute, as Kroos found Podolski with a pass out to the left. Podolski dribbled into the box and crossed dangerously toward the back post, where Santos turned the ball into his own net.

Gibraltar had one more opening in the 74th minute, as Walker placed a good shot on target from distance. However, Neuer saved comfortably to maintain Germany's clean sheet.

It was the visitors' second moment of real danger, but it proved to be their last. With the game well in hand, Germany saw out the final 15 minutes without incident.

Grades

Thomas Muller: A

In matches such as these, it is wise to take into consideration the skill level of the opponent. Gibraltar did not—and cannot—put up the kind of resistance Germany often encounter, especially in major tournaments. That makes evaluating Muller, and any other German player, difficult.

But what more could Muller do? The Bayern Munich man put away a pair of chances and, as always, showed excellent movement off the ball. 

Mario Gotze: A

Again, it's hard to properly evaluate any German player in a game like this. That said, Gotze scored a goal and was involved in the setup of another, which means he did exactly what he's supposed to do in Joachim Low's side.

Reaction

Germany coach Joachim Low (via UEFA.com):

"

I am not pleased, because winning 4-0 is not enough today and we have scored too few goals. I had expected more from the team, especially in the second half. In the first one, we at least created chances, but after the interval we hardly had any. We lacked pace and ceased running and failed to pose bigger problems for our opponent. That's why I have to say that I am not pleased with the match and the result.

"