Playing a competitive match at the PreZero Arena for the first time, Germany looked to have opened the scoring inside four minutes when Serge Gnabry’s shot ricocheted in off Nick Woltemade’s arm.
But the hosts didn’t have to wait much longer for a true opener, as David Raum whipped a perfect free-kick over the wall and into the bottom corner, his first strike for the national team.
Germany kept pushing, and Joshua Kimmich netted their second from the penalty spot after Dirk Carlson used his hand to deflect it away from Gnabry when through on goal, with the act deemed enough for the Luxembourg man to see a straight red card.
Having lost their opener against Slovakia, Germany knew that goal difference might eventually come into play in Group A, but the going was tough leading up to half-time as they looked to extend their lead.
Chances came, including when Gnabry’s shot was so close to going in that goal music was briefly played over the stadium’s speaker system, but 10-man Luxembourg held firm and kept the deficit at just two at the break.
It took just three minutes of the second half for the hosts to hit their third though, with Gnabry racing onto Karim Adeyemi’s ball and lifting his finish into the roof of the net.
Kimmich followed up just moments later to prod home after head tennis in the Luxembourg area, before Florian Wirtz’s free-kick struck the outside of the post with Anthony Moris stranded.
Considering their personnel disadvantage, Luxembourg defended very well from there, keeping their illustrious opponents relatively quiet for the final half hour.
Germany fans have not seen their side miss a World Cup for 75 years, and that doesn’t look likely to change soon, even despite what could be seen as a slightly below-par performance against 10 men here.
It may all come down to their final group game against Slovakia in November, while Luxembourg’s teething problems since Luc Holtz’s departure will likely see an end to their chances of making a first-ever finals well before that point.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Joshua Kimmich (Germany)