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Germany U21 produced an improved second-half performance to beat their counterparts from Finland 2-0 and top Group B in the European U21 Championships.

Werder Bremen star Mesut Oezil made both goals after a lacklustre first half, the first nodded home by Benedikt Hoewedes and second finished by Ashkan Dejagah.

Germany are one of the favourites to win the tournament and, having drawn with another fancied side Spain in their opening match, the onus was on them to dispose of Finland.

The Finns, who went down 2-1 against 10-man England on the opening day, had other ideas: they harried the Germans all over the pitch, while standout midfielder Perparim Hetemaj provided an occasional threat.

However they were almost undone by defensive uncertainly on 14 minutes after Sami Khedira had tried to work his way into the Finnish box. The mix-up at the back gave Gonzalo Castro a chance to score, but his reactive effort was wide of the post.

The half was pedestrian at best, loose passes and a lack of invention characterising the play.

The main talking point was whether Marko Marin should have been sent off for a late studs-up challenge on Finland keeper Anssi Jaakkola after the number one had cleared a lazy Joni Aho back-pass: he was shown a yellow card.

There was more urgency about Germany after the break, with a few choice words from coach Horst Hrubesch no doubt ringing in the players' ears: full-back Andreas Beck saw a bending shot saved by Jaakkola, which served as a warning ahead of the goal.

Before it arrived, Perparim Hetemaj - the elder brother of Mehmet Hetemaj, also on the pitch - turned Marcel Schmelzer inside out from the right, forcing the German defender to haul him down and pick up a yellow card.

Nothing came of it and two minutes later Germany were in front, Oezil's set-piece from the right splitting the Finnish defence and keeper perfectly and defender Hoewedes making no mistake.

Only two minutes after that it was two, Khedira bursting from midfield and playing a pinpoint through-ball for Oezil to latch on to; Jaakkola was already advancing to narrow the angle and Oezil displayed vision and unselfishness by immediately passing to the right to give Dejagah an open goal.

The win puts Germany top of Group B with four points from England, who have three, and Spain with one. Finland remain on zero.

England face Spain in the late game on Thursday.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport