Germany shocker as Werner blows it

GERMANY suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in their history last night as a side featuring Kai Havertz and Ilkay Gundogan were beaten 2-1 at home by North Macedonia.

Eljif Elmas scored the winner on 85 minutes in Duisburg as the Balkan country celebrated their greatest international victory.

Captain Gundogan said: ‘This cannot ever happen. They had two chances, twice in front of our goal, and twice they scored. It was just too easy for them.’

This was Germany’s first home World Cup qualifying loss for 20 years, in coach Joachim Low’s last qualifying game in charge. He will leave after this summer’s Euros.

Despite Germany’s 70 per cent possession before the break, it was the visitors who scored first when veteran Goran Pandev — whose international career began nearly 20 years ago — tapped home in stoppage time.

Gundogan’s penalty, after a foul on his former Manchester City team-mate Leroy Sane, made it 1-1 just after the hour and Germany went looking for the winner.

It should have come with eight minutes left when the ball was squared to substitute Timo Werner six yards out. But with an open goal, the Chelsea striker miskicked horribly to send the ball wide.

Down the other end, Elmas snatched victory to lift North Macedonia to six points, level with last night’s hosts and three behind shock Group J leaders Armenia.