Gündoğan scores twice in Germany's 4-1 win over Armenia

Germany midfielder Ilkay Gündoğan scored twice in their 4-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Armenia on Sunday to finish top of Group J with their seventh straight win under coach Hansi Flick.

Already-qualified Germany, missing a dozen players through injury, suspension, and COVID-19 quarantine and having made six changes to the team that beat Liechtenstein 9-0 on Thursday, earned their ninth win in 10 qualifiers to finish in the top spot on 27 points. North Macedonia are in second place on 18.

Gündoğan struck either side of the break after Kai Havertz had put the visitors in front. Jonas Hofmann also scored for the Germans.

"We won 4-1, we reached our goal with 27 points," said Flick, who took over in September from Joachim Loew.

"Not everything was perfect but it is great to see how the team plays, with this joy and fun in their game.

"Now we have some time (until the World Cup) and also until the next international to analyze everything, improve some things and show development. But the team has fun on the pitch and that is a good foundation for us."

Germany, after a first-round exit at the 2018 World Cup and the last 16 at this year's Euro, will be looking to improve at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

"There are things we need to train and things will get better," Flick said. "You see the team wants constantly to go forward to create chances. We know where we need to improve but we still have time.

"But overall we have won seven games, won the last game of the year as well I can only congratulate them."

The visitors got off to a strong start and Kai Havertz hit the post in the fifth minute. He did it better 10 minutes later turning in a Thomas Mueller cutback with a deft touch.

The Germans had several good chances to score again but had to wait until first-half stoppage time when Gundogan scored with a penalty.

The Manchester City midfielder bagged his 13th international goal five minutes after the restart when Armenia keeper Stanislav Buchnev let the German's weak shot slip through his hands.

The hosts briefly pulled a goal back with Henrikh Mkhitaryan's 59th minute penalty but Germany restored their three-goal advantage five minutes later when Jonas Hofmann pounced on a defensive to charge into the box and slot in.