Germany outplay Scotland

PARIS. — Thomas Mueller and Kyle Lafferty’s careers are worlds apart in terms of achievement, but on Monday both players scored vital goals that took Germany and Northern Ireland respectively to within touching distance of next year’s Euro 2016 soccer finals. A double by World Cup and Champions League winner Mueller inspired Germany to a 3-2 away win over Scotland which leaves the Scots struggling to even secure a play-off place for those finishing third.

Lafferty, who can’t even get a place in the starting line-up for English Premier League side Norwich, grabbed a goal in stoppage-time for the Northern Irish to force a 1-1 draw with Hungary and leave them top of their group, a point ahead of Romania with the Hungarians four points adrift and two games remaining.

A win at home to hapless bottom of the table Greece next time will be enough for Northern Ireland to reach their first ever European Championships and first major tournament since the 1986 World Cup.

Portugal too are close to a place in France after a late winner by Miguel Veloso saw them beat Albania 1-0 and top the table, four points clear of the third-placed Albanians with both of them having two matches.

Mueller’s brace plus one from Ilkay Gundogan – set up by the indefatigable Mueller – eventually saw off the combative Scots, who had twice equalised. The world champions’ stylish performance maintained Germany’s extraordinary record of never having lost in their last 71 competitive internationals when they have scored first.

German coach Joachim Loew said that he felt his side had deserved the three points.

“This match was anything but easy for large stretches of the game but I think we largely controlled it and winning was well-deserved,” the World Cup winning coach said.

“I’m proud to say we’ve taken a big step towards France 2016.” His Scotland counterpart Gordon Strachan praised his players despite a return of no points form their last two games, the 1-0 loss to Georgia last Friday having been a hammer blow.

“Whatever you think, over the two games, they’ve put in some amount of work,” said Strachan.

“There is something inside them all that drives them on. They can be proud of their performances.” — AFP.