Germany 3-1 Poland: Gotze double sends hosts top

Mario Gotze scored twice and hit the post as Germany toppled Poland at the summit of Euro 2016 qualifying Group D with a 3-1 win in Frankfurt on Friday.

The world champions dictated play in the early stages, with Thomas Muller and Gotze firing them into a 2-0 lead by the 19th minute.

But Poland recovered well and Robert Lewandowski reduced the deficit eight minutes from half-time with a powerful header.

Lewandowski had chances to pull Poland level, but it was Germany who looked most likely to score after the interval - Gotze hitting the frame of the goal and Mats Hummels drawing a superb diving save from goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Gotze eventually made sure of the win with a straightforward late goal, sealing three points that give Germany control of the group heading into their last three qualifying fixtures and inflicted a first defeat on Poland. 



Joachim Low handed a Germany debut to Liverpool's Emre Can at right-back, while Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos and Muller all returned after sitting out the country's last qualifier with Gibraltar, but it was Karim Bellarabi who caused Poland most problems in the early stages.