Emre Can (l.) and Leon Goretzka (r.) started for Germany against North Macedonia. - © getty images
Emre Can (l.) and Leon Goretzka (r.) started for Germany against North Macedonia. - © getty images
Germany vs. North Macedonia: FIFA World Cup qualifying as it happened
Germany's 35-match unbeaten run in FIFA World Cup qualifiers was ended in Duisburg following a 2-1 defeat to North Macedonia.
As it happened
1 - 2
(0 - 1)
Germany
FINAL
North Macedonia
FIFA World Cup
World Cup qualifying World Cup qualifying Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, Duisburg
World Cup qualifying World Cup qualifying Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, Duisburg
90'
+ 8
GERMANY BEATEN
Germany had won 18 World Cup qualifiers in a row and were unbeaten in their last 35. North Macedonia end the streak to hand Löw his first World Cup qualifying defeat as coach. Germany fall to third in Group J, with six points from their first three games. North Macedonia go second on the same tally, with Armenia three from three at the summit.
Full-time
End of second half
90'
+ 3
Yellow card
90'
TIME ADDED ON
Six (yes, six!) minutes for Germany to preserve their unbeaten World Cup qualifying record under Löw...
90'
Substitution
90'
Substitution
89'
Yellow card
88'
MUSIALA ON
Positive again from Löw - it has to be. Can 18-year-old Jamal Musiala spare Germany's blushes?
88'
Substitution
85'
NORTH MACEDONIA RETAKE THE LEAD!
It's happening all over again. Ademi slips a ball in behind Rüdiger, and Napoli midfielder Elmas does the rest. The unfancied visitors forge ahead for the second time - with only five minutes of normal time remaining...
83'
WARNING SHOT!
Elmas forces a routine save from ter Stegen with a shot from 18 yards. North Macedonia only came to life in an attacking sense late in the first half, remember...
80'
BIG, BIG CHANCE!
Ilkay Gündogan closes in on the North Macedonia goal, and only has eyes for the unmarked Timo Werner, stationed in a central position. He duly releases the pass, but the Chelsea striker drags his effort wide from nine yards out. Had to score!
77'
Yellow card
76'
LUCKY BREAK
Emre Can appears to handle in his own area, but there's no VAR in use in World Cup qualifiers and he gets away with it.
ALL SQUARE IN DUISBURG
© getty images
74'
ACCESS DENIED
Leroy Sane's deflected shot falls at the feet of Bayern teammate Joshua Kimmich inside the box, but his effort is also charged down. It may need a moment of magic from somewhere if Germany are going to come away with all three points...
73'
PARKING THE BUS?
Angelovski has hooked a forward for a striker. No doubt he'd have taken a point before kick-off. Is this the visitors shutting up shop?
72'
Substitution
67'
Yellow card
63'
GERMANY LEVEL!
Ilkay Gündogan fires home from the penalty spot after Alioski had been penalised for a foul on the marauding Leroy Sane. Goretzka and Werner also involved in the build-up - can Germany go and find a winner?
59'
TALKING TACTICS
Positive from Löw as he switches to a back three. Angelovski responds by throwing on another defender. Chess...
59'
Substitution
56'
Substitution
56'
Substitution
52'
WALL OF RED
North Macedonia are making life very difficult for Germany's attacking players. They're camped deep in their own half, propped up by a five-man back line.
46'
Yellow card
46'
NO CHANGES
No personnel changes at the start of the second half. How long before Löw shuffles his pack?
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'
+ 2
PANDEVMONIUM!
Macedonia have been camped in their own half for much of the game, but go in at the break a goal to the good. Bardi's pass is in behind Can for Pandev, who makes no mistake with his close-range finish. That's the first goal Germany have conceded in 2022 World Cup qualifying. How will they respond?
45'
ADDED TIME
Two additional minutes in Duisburg...
40'
TER STEGEN WITH THE STOP
Let-off for Germany. Gosens concedes a free-kick, which Alioski whips towards goal. Ademi is inches from getting a touch, but ter Stegen still has to react to push it away. Cat-like stuff from the former Gladbach custodian.
37'
YELLOW PERIL
That's two Germany players into the book this first half, despite North Macedonia being on the back-foot for much of the contest so far. It's not quite clicking just yet for Löw's men, who are guilty of playing too many stray passes.
37'
Yellow card
32'
GNABRY AGAIN!
Another presentable opportunity goes begging for Germany. Goretzka collects a cross from Gosens and feeds Gnabry, who goes for power over precision and smashes over from 10 yards out.
28'
Yellow card
27'
GNABRY CHANCE!
Dimitrievski is made to work for the first time, the North Macedonia goalkeeper turning away Gnabry's snap-shot from inside the box with an outstretched boot.
24'
CAN CAN
Alioski finds space out wide left, but Emre Can is first to the ball into the box. Sound reading of the game by the Dortmund defensive specialist, who has started this one at centre-back.
STRONG START FROM GERMANY
© getty images
18'
GERMANY ON TOP
The four-time world champions attack in waves as Ginter - playing at right-back - whips a ball into the box for Gnabry, who fails to connect. Germany come again with Can, who sees an effort charged down - as does Gündogan moments later.
12'
BARDI OK
Bardi takes a knock to a calf, but the magic sponge does his job. He should be OK to continue...
9'
GORETZKA HITS THE WOODWORK!
So close to the opener. Havertz feeds Goretzka in the box, and the Bayern man takes aim. It crashes off the upright, and Macedonia survive! Not hard to see why Thomas Müller has nicknamed him 'Leon SCOREtzka'!
8'
GERMANY LIVELY
Positive start from Germany. They're already drawing niggling fouls from the men in red. The front three of Gnabry, Havertz and Sane are constantly on the move.
5'
Yellow card
5'
HALF CHANCE!
Matthias Ginter of Gladbach looks long for Gnabry. The visiting defence is caught cold, but the Bayern winger can't quite bring the ball under wraps in the area.
1'
CLASSIC COLOURS
North Macedonia, decked in all red, get the ball rolling. Germany are in their traditional white shirts with black shorts.
Kick-off!
NATIONAL ANTHEMS
North Macedonia's number is followed by Germany's 'Das Lied der Deutschen' ('The Song of the Germans'). Kick-off in Duisburg is moments away...
TEEN TITANS
Bayern's Jamal Musiala (18) and Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz (17) are among the Germany substitutes once again. Musiala made a 12-minute cameo from the bench against Iceland, but fellow midfielder Wirtz is still awaiting his senior international debut.
'GERMANY THE FAVOURITES'
North Macedonia coach Igor Angelovski was full of praise for Germany ahead of the game at Duisburg's Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena. "Germany aren't just favourites to beat us, but favourites to win the European and world titles," he explained. "It's an honour and a pleasure to play them, and facing such great opponents should bring out the best in us. Germany impress us with their fitness and their quality. We are ready to respond, even though this is our third match in seven days."
THE LÖW VIEW
"We're not taking anything for granted," said Germany coach Joachim Löw prior to the contest. "North Macedonia are shrewd opponents. It will be another tricky task to come away with all three points."
MAN ON FIRE
© getty images
GROUP J SO FAR
North Macedonia lost 3-2 in Romania on Matchday 1, but thumped Liechtenstein 5-0 on home soil at the weekend. They're third in Group J, three points behind Germany. Armenia are the current leaders, with three wins from three. Iceland and Liechtenstein are yet to get points on the board.
MACEDONIA STARTING LINE-UP
Dimitrievski - Ristovski, Musliu, Ristevski - Nikolov, Bardhi, Ademi, Elmas, Alioski - Trajkovski, Pandev (c)
MORE ON THAT GERMANY TEAM
Ter Stegen starts in goal, as expected. The only other change from the 1-0 win over Romania sees Robin Gosens return at left-back following a muscular complaint, with RB Leipzig's Lukas Klostermann making way. Of the six Bundesliga-based players in the side, four play their club football with record champions Bayern.
LÖW'S FAREWELL CIRCUIT
Joachim Löw will leave his role as Germany head coach after the upcoming UEFA Euro 2020 championship. The 61-year-old, who led Germany to FIFA World Cup glory in 2014, is unbeaten in 32 matches across three World Cup qualifying campaigns (W29, D3). Tonight's game will be his 191st at the Germany helm.
NEUER RESTED
Former Nuremberg and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gündogan will captain Germany in Duisburg. Usual skipper Manuel Neuer has been granted a breather, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen set to start between the goalposts. Neuer is two shy of 100 games in a Germany shirt.
GERMANY'S BEST FORWARD?
Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry made two against Iceland, and scored the only goal in Romania. The 25-year-old's senior international scorecard now reads 15 goals and six assists in 19 appearances. No wonder he's Joachim Löw's first-choice central striker, despite playing his club football on the flanks.
WELCOME!
Germany have made the perfect start in Group J on the road to Qatar 2022, beating Iceland 3-0 and Romania 1-0. Can they make it a hat-trick at home to North Macedonia? Stay tuned to find out!
Match stats
- Germany met North Macedonia for the first time at senior level.
- Neuer has made 98 Germany appearances. Incredibly, he will still be outside his nation's top 10 most-capped players. Bundesliga legend Lothar Mätthaus leads the way with 150.
- Gnabry has 12 goals and six assists in his 18 Germany games since the 2018 World Cup. No other player has had a hand in more than 10 goals for Löw's side in that time.
- Jamal Musiala won his second Germany cap. Both have come as a substitute.
- Germany had won 18 World Cup qualifiers in a row and were unbeaten in their last 35. Their record is 36 between 1934 and 1985.
- Former Inter and Napoli forward Pandev has 37 goals in 117 games for North Macedonia. At 37, he is the oldest player to score past Germany in a World Cup qualifier.
Line-ups
Germany: ter Stegen - Ginter (Musiala 88'), Rüdiger, Can, Gosens (Younes 56') - Goretzka, Kimmich, Gündogan (c) - Havertz (Werner 56'), Gnabry, Sane
Unused subs: Trapp, Leno, Max, Tah, Klostermann, Neuhaus, Wirtz
Out: Brandt (not included), Dahoud (not included), Draxler (not included), Halstenberg (not included), Hofmann (not included), Koch (knee), Kroos (groin), Süle (thigh)
Coach: Joachim Löw
North Macedonia: Dimitrievski - Nikolov (Bejtulai 59'), Ristovski, Velkoski, Musliu, Alioski (Ristevski 90') - Bardi, Ademi, Elmas - Pandev (c) (Stojanovski 90'), Trajkovski (Spirovski 72')
Unused subs: Bogatinov, Siskovski, Askovski, Radeski, Hasani, Velkoski, Ibraimi
Out: Zajkov (not included), Trickovski (not included)
Coach: Igor Angelovski
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