Germany’s performance was dubbed “embarrassing” after they suffered their first World Cup qualifying defeat for 20 years in a humiliating 1...
Germany’s performance was dubbed “embarrassing” after they suffered their first World Cup qualifying defeat for 20 years in a humiliating 1-2 home loss to North Macedonia which heaped pressure on coach Joachim Loew.
“The disappointment is huge,” said a crest-fallen Loew after the final whistle in Duisburg on Wednesday.
“This is a set-back. There were a lot of mistakes and we didn’t find a way to break down the deep-standing North Macedonians. We also let them counter-attack and had no grip on the game.”
Napoli midfielder Eljif Elmas scored the winner five minutes from time after Ilkay Gundogan’s penalty had drawn Germany level following 37-year-old striker Goran Pandev’s first-half opener.
The German press were quick to put the boot in. “How embarrassing!” fumed daily Bild on their website. “Nasty Surprise” said football magazine Kicker while Frankfurt-based daily FAZ opted for “Rude awakening for the German team”.
The four-time world champions have never failed to qualify for football’s biggest tournament, but did not enter the inaugural edition in 1930 and were banned in 1950.
However, Loew’s men are already languishing third in the Group J table, three points adrift of leaders Armenia and behind North Macedonia on goal difference.
“The fact is, that shouldn’t have been allowed to happen,” admitted stand-in captain Gundogan after Germany’s...
