Germany: Road to the World Cup:

Germany finished unbeaten in Group C of the World Cup Qualifiers and only dropped points in a bizarre 4-4 draw against Sweden, after they were leading 4-0.

A total of 28 points in nine matches ensured that they comfortably topped the group with a goal difference of +26 and Sweden eight points behind them in second.

Midfield maestro, Mesut Ozil, finished with the most goals, finding the net eight times and was supported by Marco Reus who scored five times.

Thomas Muller and Miroslav Klose also scored four goals and the latter enters this World Cup contest needing just one more goal to equal Ronaldo’s World Cup record of 15 goals.

Germany’s qualification began with an easy 3-0 win over the group’s weakest side, the Faroe Islands, handing them a simple start to their route to Brazil after a brace from Ozil.

Next, they travelled to European neighbours, Austria, where Ozil found the net once more, supported by Reus as they emerged as 2-1 winners.

Against the Republic of Ireland they inflicted a 6-1 thrashing away from home after a double from Reus and Toni Kroos gave them an unassailable lead.

Next came Sweden, where the led 4-0 after strikes from Miroslav gave them an early two-goal cushion. Per Mertescaker snuck in a third and when Arsenal team mate, Ozil, put his side four goals ahead, they seemed to have won the match.

But goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Johan Elmander sparked a recovery from Sweden and a late strike from Rasmus Elm gave his side a memorable draw.

After being sucker punched by Sweden, Germany restored their confidence with a convincing win over Kazakhstan, giving them their first clean sheet.  

Early goals for Mueller and Mario Goezte gave them a two-goal lead at halftime and Mueller added a second to guide them to a 3-0 win over a far weaker side.

Germany returned home to beat Kazakhstan 4-1 just four days later in the reverse fixture as a double from Reus ensured they would achieve their fifth win in six matches.

Next came Austria, who they hammered 3-0 after goals from Klose, Kroos and Mueller handed them successive home victories after a seven-month gap between their last match.

Four days later they travelled to the Faroe Islands, where they won by the same margin to earn their seventh win. Goals from Mertesacker, Ozil and Muller brushed aside the opposition, by which time they had secured a place in the World Cup.

Their penultimate match saw the return leg against the Republic of Ireland, where a 3-0 win ruined Martin O’Neill’s hopes for claiming second place.

Germany completed a dominant run in fitting style, defeating Sweden 5-3 as they exacted revenge after they caused them to drop points in their 4-4 draw.

This match saw Germany’s only hat trick of the qualifying stages, as Chelsea’s Andre Schurrle added to his tally after scoring in the previous match.