FIFA World Cup Qualifier: Germany edge past Czech Republic, inch closer to World Cup qualification

Germany edged past the Czech Republic 2-1 win in Prague on Friday as Mats Hummels’ late header helped the defending champions inch closer to qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

The Germans took an early lead through Timo Werner, but the Czechs drew level when midfielder Vladimir Darida scored a superb equaliser with 12 minutes left.

However, Hummels helped the world champions seal the match when his powerful header hit the net with just two minutes left. “We had a lot of problems, the biggest one was giving away the ball too easily,” fumed match-winner Hummels. “I haven’t seen a Germany team do that in the last 10 years. That wasn’t the football that we can  or want to play.”

The win helped Germany maintain its perfect record of seven straight wins on the road to Russia which leaves them five points clear of nearest rivals Northern Ireland in Group C with three games left.

Germany host fourth-placed Norway, who are out of the reckoning, on Monday. If Joachim Loew’s men win that and Northern Ireland fail to beat the Czechs, Germany will qualify before their trip to Belfast in October to face the Irish.