Four-time winners Germany suffered a shock defeat at the hands of 65th ranked North Macedonia in a Group J World Cup qualifier last night.
Joachim Low’s final qualification match in charge did not go to plan as he was subjected to his first defeat after going unbeaten in 32 back-to-back World Cup qualifying games with Germany.
Napoli midfielder Eljif Elmas scored the all-important winner after Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan had equalised from the spot following veteran Genoa forward Goran Pandev’s goal in the first half.
The absence of Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos was brought to the fore in a truly abject performance from Die Mannschaft at the MSV-Arena.
Though let’s not take anything away from Igor Angelovski’s side who played with conviction in defence and attack as opposed to Germany who were laborious and sloppy.
Twitter was awash with ‘schadenfreude’ as the events unfolded –
Germany lost to North Macedonia!?
— Chicago Spurs (@chicagospurs) March 31, 2021
If only there was a word to describe pleasure derived from someone else’s misfortune
Germany 1-2 North Macedonia FT.
— Thogdad (@thogdad) March 31, 2021
Nah, that’s the crappiest April Fools attempt ever.
Tonight’s shock result is only the third time that Germany have lost a World Cup qualifier in their history. Bizarrely, all three defeats were at home.
— Jonathan O’Brien (@obrien_jonathan) March 31, 2021
* 0-1 v Portugal, Stuttgart, October 1985
* 1-5 v England, Munich, September 2001
* 1-2 v North Macedonia, Duisburg, March 2021
ESPN asks Jurgen Klinsmann how Germany lost to North Macedonia.
— Brooks Peck (@BrooksDT) March 31, 2021
“I have no idea!” he says.
At least he’s honest.
Armenia and North Macedonia are above Germany in the World Cup qualifiers group.
— Bayern Central (@bayerncentral) March 31, 2021
Let that sink in.
Germany lost to North Macedonia in World Cup Qualifying today.
— Eddie (@EddieEScott1) March 31, 2021
Think: 1992 Dream Team losing to Trinidad And Tobago in Olympic Qualifying
Or Michigan beating Ohio State in football with Harbaugh as coach.
Fact – After a long battle with Greece, Macedonia were forced to change their name to North Macedonia according to terms proposed in the Prespa agreement in June 2018.
Imagine if Germany had to play the whole of Macedonia
— Nick Goff (@nickgoff79) March 31, 2021
North Macedonia defeats Germany. Germany to be called henceforth “Northwest Austria.”
— Eric Gordy (@EricGordy) March 31, 2021
North Macedonia turns up to Greece, shows the result against Germany, and demands the name back.
— Grace Robertson(@GraceOnFootball) March 31, 2021
Germany really lost to North Macedonia. North. Not even the whole Macedonia.
— s. (@Cerebrone) March 31, 2021
(I know I know).
The sheer difference between the two sides –
North Macedonia beat Germany
— Wilco
A country with a popluation of 2 million people, beat the 2014 World champions, with a population of 82 million.
The beauty of football, I guess.
Anyone can beat anyone, no matter their size/skill/experience.(@KIopptinho) March 31, 2021
Just to put some context, North Macedonia has a total player market worth of 61.75 Mil $. Their 2 attacking wingers being half of it.
— Mathieu Breault (@MathieuBreault) March 31, 2021
Germany… has a total player market worth 942 mil $
