A sublime brace from Kevin Volland and a headed goal from Matthias Ginter earned Germany a much needed victory in the 2015 UEFA Under-21 European Championships.

Hoffenheim’s Volland gave Germany the lead with an exquisite finish between Jakob Busk’s legs, but credit to Emre Can who picked out the 22-year old.

A quickfire brace in the second half from Germany saw Volland double Germany’s lead from a dead ball, before Ginter headed his side into a three goal lead. 

It was vital that Germany got the three points as the first round of games saw Denmark overcome hosts Czech Republic, whilst Germany struggled against Serbia, who were only able to muster up a 1-1 draw, with an equaliser from Liverpool’s Can.

A host of changes from both sides

Both manager’s made four changes to their starting lineups. Jess Thorup brought in Jens Jønsson, Lasse Vigen Christensen, Pione Sisto and Nicolai Brock-Madsen in place of Frederik Sørensen, Rasmus Falk, Pierre Højbjerg and Ajax’s Viktor Fischer.

1.FC Köln’s new signing, Dominique Heintz started in place of Robert Knoche for Germany, whilst Horst Hrubesch also handed a start to Leonardo Bittencourt, Joshua Kimmich and Nico Schulz.

Germany controlled most of the possession in the opening stages, with Schalke’s Max Meyer seemingly been asked to play as a second striker behind Volland, who hit double figures for Hoffenheim, helping his side to eighth in the Bundesliga.

Opportunity went begging for Denmark after a mix-up between Schulz and Heintz allows Sisto to get his shot away in the opening 10 minutes, before Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Ginter was also found guilty of giving the ball away, with Brock-Madsen unable to capitalise.

Heintz made up for his earlier mistake with a long ball towards Volland, who plucked the ball from the air, finding Bittencourt in acres of space who at the very least, should have found the target.

Edgy opening stages leads to end-to-end start

Up the other end of the pitch, Yussuf Poulsen had a brilliant chance to fire Denmark in the lead, but European Cup winner, Marc-Andre ter Stegen kept his ground, making it difficult for the Dane to make a real opportunity of it.

A quite spell from both teams led to Amin Younes almost curling Germany into the lead midway through the first half, just finding the wrong side of Busk’s post. The Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder was the brightest spark for Germany in a five minute spell, with the German beating his man, before almost finding Volland at the far post from the by-line.

Kevin Volland fires Germany ahead

Volland put Germany ahead after 36 minutes, firing the ball under Busk, but it was all about the pass from Can - who drove from just inside his own half, before finding his counterpart with an inch-perfect pass between the two Danish centre-backs.

The goal certainly give the German’s some confidence as Younes almost doubled his side lead just four minutes later. Schulz found the midfielder who had the goal at his mercy, but the 21-year old saw his shot sail narrowly wide. 

It took Germany and Volland just four minutes into the second half to double their lead. The forward took charge of the free-kick, firing past Busk from 30-yards, which left the Danish goalkeeper scrambling.

Germany were then in control, as Ginter headed Germany into a three-nil lead just minutes later, putting the game beyond doubt, sending the German’s to the top of Group A.

Younes caused the Dane's plenty of problems, as he plays in Meyer, who saw his effort hit the wrong side of the post, before the Gladbach man had a chance himself to add to Germany's lead, after getting on the end of Bittencourt's cross.

Thorup had Denmark's final group game in mind when he brought off Sisto in place of Fischer, looking to preserve the winger's fitness ahead of a must win, final game.

A draw will be enough for Germany against Czech Republic to take them through, whilst Denmark need three points against Serbia in the final round of group games, to know out the hosts, or the German's.