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DUISBURG, Germany: Germany’s performance was called “disgraceful” after they suffered their first World Cup qualifying loss in 20 years in a humiliating 2-1 home loss to North Macedonia. That increased the pressure on manager Joachim Loew.
“The disappointment is huge,” Loew said after the final whistle in Duisburg on Wednesday.
“This is a setback. There were many mistakes and we could not find a way to bring down the deep-rooted Macedonians in the North.”
“We also let them fight back and we had no control over the game.”
Napoli midfielder Eljif Elmas scored the winning goal with five minutes remaining after Ilkay Gundogan’s penalty tied Germany after the first half by 37-year-old striker Goran Pandev.
The German press rushed to put the trunk.
“How embarrassing!” Bild smoked daily on his website.
“Unpleasant surprise,” said the soccer magazine Kicker, while the Frankfurt daily FAZ opted for “Rude awakening for the German team.”
The four-time world champions have never failed to qualify for the most important soccer tournament, but they did not enter the inaugural edition in 1930 and were banned in 1950.
However, Loew’s men already languish third in the Group J table, three points behind leaders Armenia and behind North Macedonia on goal difference.
“The fact is, it shouldn’t have been allowed to happen,” admitted substitute captain Gundogan after Germany’s first defeat in World Cup qualification since the infamous 5-1 defeat of England in 2001.
“It felt like North Macedonia only came close to our goal twice and scored twice, it was too easy.
“We had chances and we only scored one goal.
“It hurts me more that not many things happen for two months,” he added, as Germany will not play again until the preparations for Euro 2020 in June.
“We have to get into top form at the end of May and prepare for the tournament (of the European championship).”
Germany faces world champion France and champion Portugal in their European championship group.
The defeat was just the latest setback suffered by Germany, following their 6-0 beating of Spain last November and the surprising exit from the group stage at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The loss, which ended an 18-game winning streak in World Cup qualification, will put pressure on Loew, who will step down after the Euro 2020 final in July after 15 years in office.
The result will also weigh on Chelsea striker Timo Werner, who blew a golden opportunity at 1-1 after coming off the bench in the second half.
“I feel sorry for him (Werner),” Gundogan admitted.
The former RB Leipzig forward has now scored just two goals in his last 31 appearances for the club and the country.
PANDEV STRIKES
North Macedonia ranks 65th in the world, 52 places below Germany, but it was the visitors who took the lead in Duisburg.
Germany had to pay for missing several early opportunities, including a shot from the sky by Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry with the goal at their mercy.
In added time at the end of the first half, North Macedonia’s 37-year-old forward Pandev shot home his 38th international goal.
Germany were suddenly faced with failing to win a World Cup qualifier for the first time since Sweden drew 4-4 at home in 2012.
With an hour to go, Gundogan, Germany’s captain of the night with Manuel Neuer rested, stepped forward to convert the resulting penalty after Leroy Sane sank in the area.
After Werner’s howl, North Macedonia seized their opportunity when Dinamo Zagreb’s Arijan Ademi beat Werner’s Chelsea teammate Antonio Ruediger and faced Elmas to overtake German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Before the start, the Germans unveiled a banner with the words “Wir sind 30” (We are 30), in black, red and gold letters, in reference to the United Nations 30-point human rights declaration.
It was the third consecutive match in which the Germans made a protest targeting Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup.
Several other nations, including Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway, have also protested for human rights ahead of their qualifiers over the past week.
Qatar has faced criticism for its treatment of migrant workers, many of whom are involved in preparations for next year’s tournament, while Qatari authorities insist they have done more than any other country in the region to improve the worker welfare.
