To validate its ticket for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Monday evening, Germany, comfortable leader of Group J, had to win in North Macedonia and count, at the same time, on a misstep from the Armenia in Romania. This double condition has been met.
A header from Alexandru Mitrita (26th) at the reception of a corner gave the victory to the Romanians in Armenia (1-0). The Mannschaft, it took a long time to fulfill its part of the contract. Vigilant on strikes from Serge Gnabry (17th, 25th), on the parade in front of Timo Werner (26th), goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, saved by his right post on a shot from Werner (45th + 2) and impassable in the first period, has long delayed the deadline.
Werner’s awakening
But the last Macedonian bulwark gave way after the break. On a block, Gnabry threw Thomas Müller in depth. The Bayern Munich striker fixed the Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper and shifted to his left Kai Havertz, who only had to push the ball into the empty goal (1-0, 50 ‘). With a powerful half-volley on a sumptuous deflection from Thomas Müller (2-0, 70th) and a curled shot from the right (3-0, 73rd), Werner put an end to the suspense, before Jamal Musiala s ‘offers his first goal in the selection (4-0, 83rd).
In this group J, the fight for second place, synonymous with a jump-off, promises to be exciting between Romania (13 points), which is ahead of North Macedonia and Armenia by one.