Low devastated as Germany crash to North Macedonia
Germany’s first World Cup qualifying defeat in 20 years since they were thrashed 5-1 by England in Munich in 2001 added another blemish to the final months of coach Joachim Low’s 15-year reign in charge of the team.
Germany’s 35-match unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying ended with a stunning home loss to North Macedonia that left the team sitting third in Group J after three games.
It was only the country’s third ever loss in qualifying for the World Cup since 1934, the other two coming against Portugal in 1985, when it was West Germany, and the famous defeat by England 20 years ago.
Low, who led Germany to the 2014 World Cup, is stepping down as coach after the European Championship. After exiting the World Cup in the group stage in 2018, the Euros could cause the Germans more pain given they are in the same group as reigning champions Portugal and world champions France. In
November, they lost 6-0 to Spain for their worst defeat since 1931.
“This is bitterly disappointing,” Low said. “We were not fresh enough, we made mistakes. When we played quickly we were dangerous, but we did not find the tools to be really threatening. Overall, it was disappointing to lose like that at home.”
Goran Pandev, a 37-year-old striker playing in his 20th year of international football, was part of the North Macedonia team that shocked Germany, scoring the opener in first-half stoppage time.
Ilkay Gundogan equalised from the penalty spot but, after Chelsea’s Timo Werner missed a golden chance to put Germany ahead, Eljif Elmas scored the winner for North Macedonia in the 85th minute at the end of a counter-attack.
“These lads have made North Macedonia proud against the winners of four World Cup titles and three European championships,” the North Macedonia coach, Igor Angelovski, said.
“We’ve never beaten a team with so many titles. Now we have to get some rest as what we have accomplished still hasn’t sunk in.”
Armenia are the surprise leaders in Group J after they struck two
goals inside the final four minutes for a 3-2 victory over Romania in Yerevan to make it three wins out of three.
Before the start of the game the German players unfurled a banner supporting human rights.
Elsewhere, France struggled to beat Bosnia 1-0 away to open up a four-point gap at the top of Group D.
Antoine Griezmann scored his 35th goal for France with a header from Adrien Rabiot’s cross on the
hour to put Les Bleus on seven points from three games.
Spain lead Group B after claiming a 3-1 home win against Kosovo. Denmark made it three World Cup qualifying wins out of three with a 4-0 demolition of Austria.
Germany (4-3-3) Ter Stegen; Can, Ginter (Musiala 89), Rudiger, Gosens (Younes 56); Goretzka, Kimmich, Gundogan; Havertz (Werner 56), Gnabry, Sane.
North Macedonia (5-3-2) Dimitrievski; Nikolov (Bejtulai 59), Ristovski, Velkoski, Musliu, Alioski (Ristevski 90); Bardt, Ademi, Elmas; Pandev (Stojanovski 90), Trajkovski (Spirovski 72).
Referee Sergei Karasev (Russia).