Germany travelled to Kazakhstan without a recognised striker, so coach Joachim Low named Mario Gotze as a 'false nine' up front.
Kazakhstan were solid early on but two goals in three minutes from Thomas Muller - who deflected in a Bastian Schweinsteiger shot - and Mario Gotze put Germany 2-0 up.
The hosts hit the bar through Ulan Konysbaev just a few minutes before Germany wrapped up the three points with Muller's second.
Read how the action unfolded below with out live text commentary.
Hello everyone and thanks for joining me for this World Cup qualifier from Group C between Kazakhstan and Germany.
I'll get straight to the team news.
GERMANY XI: Neuer; Lahm, Mertesacker, Howedes, Schmelzer; Schweinsteiger, Khedira; Muller, Ozil, Draxler; Gotze
I'll get the Kazakhstan news across to you as soon as I get it.
So as Joachim Low suggested in the build-up to this one, he has indeed opted for a 'false nine' formation. The injury to Mario Gomez probably decided it for him. It's Mario Gotze who starts up top in the Spain-style formation. It'll be interesting to see how that works out.
He's certainly an exceptionally talented midfielder, and has many of the attributes required to lead the line, except perhaps height and strength. Of course, against Kazakhstan Low won't really get all that much from the decision - unless if fails of course.
Here is out report with Low's comments on the false nine. He said: "I've been considering the idea for a while. The idea is to have different players go up front [during a game], who of course have to look to finish and be threats in front of goal."
KAZAKHSTAN XI: Sidelinkov; Kirov, Logvinenko, Gurman, Nurdauletov; Dmitrenko, Ostapenko, Khairullin, Baizhanov, Shmidtgal; Jolchiyev
There is the hosts' lineup for you finally. You would suspect that Andrei Sidelinkov might well be the busiest player in goal, so that's the name I'm revising folks!
It's a 4-5-1 from Miroslav Beranek. His side will attempt to pack the middle of the park. Interestingly, with Germany's six midfielders, it might end up looking like school football with everyone following the ball around.
Of course, I'm not really suggesting anything less than top quality from Germany. I fully expect them to triumph tonight, which brings me to the odds.....
Germany are at 1/12 while if you fancy Kazakhstan you can back them at 40/1! Be sensible, though...
The players are out on the pitch, we're almost set for kickoff. The Greek referee Kakos does the toss, and Germany will kick off.
Germany get us started! My prediction: 1-4. Perhaps conservative, but I'm not convinced by the formation. I'm ready to eat my words, though.
As you might expect, Germany start with some patient probing, however Dmitrenko tries to get in behind Per Mertesacker to the delight of a raucous Kazakh crowd. They've started brightly and the fans are in great voice.
Ostapenko steals the ball from Sami Khedira in the middle and tries to set Khairullin clear, but it's well cut out by Lahm. They're not sitting back too deep at the moment and are pressing just inside their own half.
Muller almost weaves his way through the defence, but Sidelinkov comes out to steal it from his feet. That was Germany's first venture into the Kazakhs' box and it looked threatening.
They're remaining patient the Germans, but only half of it is by choice - they're being pressed, too. Draxler plays it wide to Schmelzer, who cuts it back to the 19-year-old but he stabs an effort wide. Really good patient build-up but it was only half a chance really.
Draxler, who has been excellent this season, is tackled as he cuts into the box. The hosts break and Shmidtgal just overhits his pass to Jolchiyev and it goes out for a goal kick. Just a hint of a threat there that Germany must be wary of.
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CHANCE! Germany carve open the solid wall of blue shirts, with Lahm setting Ozil free. He cuts back to Khedira and his effort is well blocked. Logvinenko goes into the book for bringing down Thomas Muller just outside the box.
Schweinsteiger steps over the free kick and Ozil hits it straight into the wall. Poor effort from about 25 yards. It comes back, however, and Draxler cuts on to his right from the left flank and shoots hard but straight at Sidelinkov.
Good football between Draxler, Ozil and Khedira tries to create space for Schmelzer down the left, but the Borussia Dortmund left-back cannot keep Ozil's pass in play. Still Germany well on top.
Lahm finds Khedira over the top in space. He looks up but the lack of focal point means Gotze is at the far past and only Muller is trying to get into the box. It's cut out, but comes straight back again, this time for an offside. Kazakhstan can breathe again.
CHANCE! Gotze should score! Superb football finds Schweinsteiger in the box, who finds Gotze just to his right but his effort goes flying over the bar!
CHANCE! More good football between Schweinsteiger, Khedira and Ozil sets Gotze away down the left but his cross is cleared for a corner. Draxler took a knock in an aerial challenge with Kirov a few moments ago and he can't continue, with Lukas Podolski on in his place.
GOAL! Kazakhstan 0-1 Germany (Schweinsteiger)
In fact, I think that will be given to Muller. Ozil fizzes the ball across to Schweinsteiger; his first touch is awful, but two glorious ones flick it over the defender and volleys towards goal. Replays show it hit Muller's chest on the way in. Either way, Germany lead.
GOAL! Kazakhstan 0-2 Germany (Gotze)
This one's a bit scrappy. Muller, a Kazakh defender and Sidelinkov scramble for the ball. It eventually falls to Gotze who whips it into the open net for surely game over.
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In a devastating couple of minutes, Germany have surely taken this one away from Kazakhstan. The hosts will now have to play in damage limitation mode and see if they can get a goal back before too many go in their own net.
They have a perfect blend of patience and rapid attacking. Ozil guides a simple wonderful pass into the path of Muller, but a rare piece of miscontrol sees it go out for a throw instead. It's all being played in the hosts' half.
The frantic pace has just died down a little. That's until Jolchiyev tries to get the better of Schmelzer down the Kazakh right, but his cross to the middle of the pitch ends nowhere. Germany back on the ball.
If an attack doesn't go to plan, Germany just go straight back to the drawing board. There's no panic, no recklessness to get the ball back, just patience and probing. They know a chance will come again soon. Being 2-0 up helps, sure, but they've played this way all game long in fairness.
There's always a man or two in space. This time, Schmelzer is free on the left but his cross is blocked for a corner. Kazakhstan can only half-clear and the passes are once more exchanged by the Germans, until Khedira is set free on the right. That attack comes to nothing but no worries, they just recycle the ball again.
A rare spell of possession for the hosts, but it doesn't last long as Germany break through Podolski. He finds Muller but his pass through to Gotze is cut out. The hosts come again with Khairullin looking to play in Ostapenko, but it goes through to Neuer.
KAZAKHSTAN SUB: Baizhanov is making way for Valeri Korobkin.
It's a masterclass of possession football from Germany. They work another corner after a superb piece of skill from Gotze near the right flank, but the hosts are just clinging on still.
Even with numerous blue shirts around the German players seem to have so much time. That said, Ozil gives the ball away but his teammates rally and win it back within seconds. Like a swarm of locusts they robbed Dmitrenko of the ball.
Nurdauletov tackles Gotze really well as the German looked to get around him. The hosts win a free kick and then a throw as they tentatively venture into their opponents' half. They go into the box, but there's an offside flag against Jolchiyev. He was about five yards off.
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More patient probing from the visitors. Muller and Gotze are working the channels well, but the Kazakh's are staying tight. Until Schweinsteiger gets into the box and shoots on his right foot, but gets nowhere near the target with the outside of his boot.
Jolchiyev gets away down the right, but Khedira is across to help Schmelzer snuff him out and the man in blue has to settle for a throw. It comes to nothing, but they're finishing the half with a spell of possession. One minute added on.
HALF-TIME: Kazakhstan 0-2 Germany
Germany are simply too good. Kazakhstan were solid enough for 20 minutes, keeping men behind the ball but also pressing quite well. However, a flurry midway through the half saw Germany net twice, which has probably ended the game as a contest.
It's certainly a very long way back for the hosts. They started fairly well, looking lively, and they have a very loud stadium behind them, but there aren't many international teams who can come from two behind against Germany and win; Kazakhstan certainly aren't one of them.
The first goal is currently credited to Bastian Schweinsteiger, but it will end up going down as Thomas Muller's. Schweinsteiger took a poor touch, but made up for it with a flick over the defender and a volley into the corner, but it hit Muller's chest on the way in and probably would have gone wide without the touch.
The players are in the tunnel, ready to come back for the second half. I can't see anything other than more goals going in the Kazakh net. I stupidly said the hosts might get a goal, but they've created no threat whatsoever up to now.
Kazakhstan get us back underway, what can they create in this half?
The second half immediately settles into a similar pattern as the first. Germany are on the ball, passing and probing and waiting for their chance to strike. Muller gives away a free kick and the hosts look to break here with some direct football. Eventually Nurdauletov goes back to the defence and Schweinsteiger makes a great tackle when they go forward again.
Half chance for Jolchiyev as Khairullin angles a deep cross towards him. However, his touch lets him down and the chance is gone.
The hosts are definitely in this more than they were in the first. Jolchiyev counters at pace, but he couldn't get away from Khedira, who deflects his shot behind for a corner.
Jolchiyev again gets some joy down the right. He doesn't seem to trust his teammates, however, as his shot with his left foot is selfish and straight at Neuer.
Germany are still really struggling to keep the ball i this half. Khedira and Ozil both give the ball away in quick succession, before Podolski has a shot blocked, although he fouled Logvinenko getting to the bal. Reall good response from the Kazakhs.
BOOKING: Korobkin goes into the book for bringing down Ozil right on the edge of the box.
Schweinsteiger takes this one but he too drills it straight into the wall. The Kazakhs look to counter but now Germany are starting to control proceedings.
Now Germany have finally come into this half. A cross comes through to Podolski and he lets fly with that famous left foot but some heroic blocking keeps it out. Still they flood forward and the Arsenal man wins a corner.
Gotze swings it in deep, but it's well claimed by Sidelinkov between the sticks.
There's still a lot of noise from the Kazakh fans and they're enjoying themselves today. In truth, they have a right to be cheering this half as for the most part they've matched Germany.
Khedira is one of the fittest players in world football I'd say. He's still racing around in defence and attack for the cause. He's underrated going forward too, in my opinion. He really does have a good touch.
BOOKING: Dmitrenko is carded, and it's a poor lunge on Gotze from behind. They also make a change, with Khairullin coming off for Konysbaev.
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The pace has come right out of this one now. Kazakhstan have seemingly stopped trying to counter and it's being played at Germany's speed. They try to work a move, but Konysbaev cuts out Khedira's attempted pass well.
OFF THE BAR! So unlucky for Kazakhstan as Konysbaev rattles the bar with a piledriver form outside the box! A few inches lower and his side are right back in this. He's been good since he's come on.
BOOKING: Schweinsteiger becomes the first German into the book as he takes down Konysbaev from behind.
SAVE! Suddenly the hosts have come to life! Shmidtgal is free and he goes for Neuer's near post but the big German palms it wide for a corner. A couple of huge warning signs for Germany; it's not over unless they score again.
GOAL! Kazakhstan 0-3 Germany (Muller)
Ozil finds Muller with a lovely flick and he slots into the bottom corner to wrap this one up. Germany heeded the warnings a few minutes ago and this is beyond the hosts now.
Germany are turning on the style now. Gotze turns superbly and plays in Schweinsteiger but his touch for once lets him down and the ball is back with Sidelinkov.
It's all being played in the Kazakh half now. Germany passing slowly, patiently; they have no need to rush things now. That's not to say they aren't looking for a fourth, just that they won't bust a gut to get it.
GERMANY SUBS: Khedira is off for Ilkay Gundogan and Muller makes way for Andre Schurrle.
Apologies, there are some technical issues. The stadium is struggling with its satellite feeds. I'll bring you the latest action as soon as I can!
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I can confirm there hasn't been another goal yet. Both sides seem to have settled with this result.
I will be interested to see whether this formation will be used by Low against stronger opponents. Their next game, in three days, is against tonight's opponents. It's uncertain whether Mario Gomez will be fit for that so it might well be a similar lineup.
FULL-TIME: Kazakhstan 0-3 Germany
Apologies for the problems at the end there. Germany have won this comfortably as expected. Midway through the second half the hosts came to life briefly, but Muller put them down with a well-taken third goal.
Thanks for joining me for the action tonight. Stick around for the reaction from all tonight's ties, and please do join me again on Tuesday for this fixture, just in Germany. Until then.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
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