The Macedonians achieved the feat of a lifetime against Germany on March 31, 2021. – Thilo Schmuelgen / AP / SIPA
After 17 consecutive victories in World Cup qualifying, Germany was beaten at home in Duisburg on Wednesday 2-1By the surprising North Macedonia, breaking at the same time the dynamics of its preparation for the Euro this summer.
Despite a goal from Ilkay Gündogan on a generous penalty (63rd), Macedonia won thanks to Goran Pandev (45th + 2) and Elif Elmas (85). Since a 4-4 against Sweden in 2012, the Mannschaft had not dropped a single point in a qualifying group at the World Cup.
Werner’s huge failure
The Germans are third in their qualifying group for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with 6 points, behind Armenia (9 points) and tied with Macedonia. “The disappointment is enormous,” admitted coach Joachim Löw. It is difficult to do a hot analysis, but we were tired, we lacked freshness, we were slow in attack, but even when we were fast we did not find the means to cause problems for our opponent. “.
“It must not happen. Macedonia came twice in front of our goal and scored twice. It was too easy ”, deplored for his part the captain of one evening Gündogan, visibly distraught at the final whistle: “We had several chances and we only scored one goal. And on the two goals conceded, we are not good, each time there is a completely free opponent in the center ”.
Werner misses a golden opportunity that would have given Germany the advantage!#teamFOOT pic.twitter.com/lvTN4h5goU
– the L’Équipe channel (@lachainelequipe) March 31, 2021
As the laborious 1-0 victory on Sunday in Romania had already shown, the German team’s work is first and foremost that of realism in front of goal. Because if Gnabry, Goretzka or Werner miss the Euro (June 11-July 11) enormous opportunities as they did against Macedonia, they risk paying dearly in the “group of death”, against the France, world champion, Portugal, reigning European champion, and Hungary, co-organizer of the Euro.