Football: Germany stroll to opening 3-0 win over Iceland; Italy cruise to victory over N. Ireland

Germany's Emre Can (left) in action against Iceland's Arnor Ingvi Traustaso in Duisburg, Germany, on March 25, 2021. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

DUISBURG, Germany/PARMA, Italy (REUTERS) - Germany made light work of their start to the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign after goals from Leon Goretzka, Kai Havertz and Ilkay Gundogan gave them a 3-0 home win over Iceland in a lopsided Group J clash on Thursday (March 25).

Goretzka and Havertz fired the Germans into a 2-0 lead inside the opening seven minutes before Gundogan sealed victory with a sizzling low shot from 25 metres in the 56th.

The match went ahead after two German players, Jonas Hofmann and Marcel Halstenberg, were quarantined earlier on Thursday as Hofmann tested positive for Covid-19 and Halstenberg was identified as a category one contact.

Germany took the lead after a delightful move as Joshua Kimmich found Serge Gnabry in the penalty area with a perfectly weighed pass and the latter touched it back for Goretzka to volley home in the third minute.

Havertz made it 2-0 after another defence-splitting pass from Kimmich released Leroy Sane who squared it back for the Chelsea forward to curl in a low first-time shot from 12 metres.

The home side took their feet off the pedal after Gundogan's strike but could have added the fourth as Gnabry hit the post with a rasping shot in the 70th minute.

Meanwhile, Italy made a comfortable start to the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign by beating Northern Ireland 2-0 in Group C on Thursday.

Two goals inside the first 39 minutes from Domenico Berardi and Ciro Immobile settled Italy's nerves as they look to banish the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Northern Ireland rallied in the second half, forcing Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into several saves, but the damage was done in the opening period, with the hosts taking their foot off the gas and seeing out the win with ease.

Up next for Roberto Mancini's Italy side are two away games against Bulgaria on Sunday and Lithuania next week, while Northern Ireland face the United States in a friendly at the weekend before hosting the Bulgarians the following Wednesday.

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