Dominant Germany hit Ireland for six

Germany's excellent start to FIFA World Cup qualifying continued in Dublin as they put six past the Republic of Ireland to make it three wins from three in Group C.

After winning all ten matches en route to UEFA EURO 2012, the visitors made it 13 consecutive victories in qualifying in emphatic fashion with a Marco Reus double giving the Nationalmannschaft a comfortable lead at the break. Mesut Özil, Miroslav Klose and two Toni Kroos efforts from distance rounded off the Germany scoring, Andy Keogh's late goal little consolation for the hosts.

The visitors, who had never lost a World Cup qualifier away from home, rarely looked in danger despite an energetic start from the hosts, Keith Andrews steering Jon Walters' knockdown wide. Joachim Löw's side then took control, and after Thomas Müller had twice missed the target, Borussia Dortmund's Reus pounced on a loose ball in the area on 32 minutes to smash in off the crossbar.

Eight minutes later the advantage was doubled as a sweeping counterattack allowed Jérôme Boateng to find Reus on the left and the winger's drilled shot made it two. Darren O'Dea brought down Klose in the area after the break, allowing Özil to score his fourth goal in qualifying from the spot, before Klose himself slid in excellently from a tight angle on 58 minutes.

The final half-hour belonged to substitute Kroos, who volleyed a fifth superbly from the edge of the area and then made space 20 metres from goal to power a shot past a helpless Keiren Westwood.

Keogh's late header did not take the shine off Germany's display ahead of Tuesday's meeting with Sweden, who also hold a 100% record. Giovanni Trapattoni's side will hope to bounce back when they travel to the Faroe Islands.