Germany clinch progress with Georgia win

• Germany qualify for UEFA EURO 2016 with home success
• Thomas Müller breaks deadlock via spot kick on 50 minutes
• Jaba Kankava restores parity with stunning volley
• Substitute Max Kruse secures win 11 minutes from time
• Victory confirms world champions as Group D winners

Max Kruse came off the bench to send Germany through to UEFA EURO 2016 and clinch top spot in Group D as the world champions beat Georgia 2-1 in Leipzig.

Still to secure qualification having suffered a shock 1-0 reverse against the Republic of Ireland last time out, the section leaders dominated possession in the early stages. Thomas Müller, André Schürrle and Toni Kroos all threatened inside ten minutes before Marco Reus squandered a glorious opportunity with only Georgia goalkeeper Nukri Revishvili to beat.

On 27 minutes, a rare Georgia foray almost led to the opener. A fine save to his left-hand side by Manuel Neuer denied Tornike Okriashvili inside the area after good work by Valeri Kazaishvili on the right. Four minutes later, Reus dragged wide after being sent clear on the opposite flank. The same player then latched on to Mesut Özil's chipped pass and attempted an excellent volley – only to be denied by Revishvili, who thwarted Joachim Löw's charges on ten occasions in the first half.

Thomas Müller opened the scoring from the spot©Getty Images

The world champions continued to dominate proceedings after the break, and broke the deadlock soon after, but it took a penalty to finally find a way past Revishvili – Müller sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. Neuer then produced a one-handed stop to deny Nika Kvekveskiri before Kakhaber Tskhadadze's men restored parity from the resulting corner. Jaba Kankava's stunning left-footed volley found the roof of the net after the hosts had failed to clear.

Neuer was called into action again to keep out Okriashvili’s 60th-minute effort as Georgia surged forward again. Both teams had chances as the half continued, but it was Germany who claimed the points. Substitute Kruse secured first place in the section with a calm left-footed finish 11 minutes from time after an exquisite through ball from Özil.