Germany secure place after victory
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Ballack put Germany on their way
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HAMBURG, Germany -- Germany crushed Iceland 3-0 in Group Five to book their place in the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal.
Inspirational midfielder Michael Ballack, braving the pain from a sore ankle, showed the way when he curled the ball into the net with a half-volley from inside the box on nine minutes.
Fredi Bobic doubled Germany's lead when he volleyed home from a Kevin Kuranyi cross in the 59th minute and Kuranyi tapped the ball in from a dream pass by substitute Miroslav Klose to seal the victory with 11 minutes remaining.
The three-time world and European champions, who needed at least a draw to book their trip to the finals, showed much more initiative than the visitors but survived some scares.
Iceland found the net once in each half through Eidur Gudjohnsen and Hermann Hreidarsson, but both efforts were disallowed, for offside and a foul respectively.
Scotland's simultaneous 1-0 win over Lithuania in Glasgow gave them second place in the group for a play-off berth and meant Iceland, who dropped to third, did not qualify.
Manchester United teenager Darren Fletcher came off the substitutes' bench to fire Scotland to their nervy victory.
The Scots created few chances against a well-organised visiting side but 19-year-old midfielder Fletcher, who replaced Colin Cameron on 65 minutes, sealed the victory when he struck from the edge of the box five minutes later.
Copyright 2003
Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
