Staff Reporter.
Arsenal forward Kai Havertz was among the goalscorers as Germany thrashed Bosnia-Herzegovina to claim a record Nations League victory and win Group A3 with a game to spare.
Germany became the first nation to score seven goals in a men’s match in the competition’s six-year history.
Jamal Musiala put the hosts ahead after only two minutes when he headed in a cross from Joshua Kimmich, before Tim Kleindienst deflected in Robert Andrich’s effort.
Havertz netted to make it 3-0 after only 37 minutes following a one-two with Florian Wirtz.
Germany had already clinched qualification to the Nations League quarter-finals before this game, but victory ensured they would progress as group winners and face one of the runners-up in March’s next stage.
Wirtz scored twice in seven second-half minutes, a stunning 25-yard free-kick and then converting from close range after visiting goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj could only parry a shot.
Substitute Leroy Sane showed great skill to collect Havertz’s pass and finish well for a sixth goal. Striker Kleindienst then got his second and Germany’s seventh from Antonio Rudiger’s cross.
The defeat ensured Bosnia-Herzegovina would be relegated to the second tier of the Nations League.
Meanwhile Sweden is trying to earn promotion from League C to League B. Estonia finished at Azerbaijan 0-0 in the same group.
Elsewhere the Netherlands joined Germany as the two teams from League A, Group 3 to advance to the quarterfinals in March.
The Dutch easily won their game in Amsterdam, which was briefly suspended in the first half for the medical evacuation of Hungary assistant coach Adam Szalai. The Hungarian Football Federation said the former player was in “stable” condition after being taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
Wout Weghorst converted a penalty in the 21st and Cody Gapko added a second spot kick in first-half injury time. Denzel Dumfries and Teun Koopmeiners added second-half goals.
League B
Wales escaped with a scoreless draw from Turkey after the host’s top scorer Kerem Akturkoglu missed an 89th-minute penalty. Akturkoglu, who leads Turkey with four goals in the Nations League, sent his spot kick off the post.
Iceland won at Montenegro 2-0 after late goals by Orri Oskarsson and Isak Bergmann. The loss meant Montenegro will be relegated to League C.
A goal by Georges Mikautadze got Georgia a 1-1 draw at home with Ukraine after an own goal by Solomon Kverkvelia put the visitors ahead.
The Czech Republic missed the chance to earn promotion from League B after drawing at Albania 0-0.