North Macedonia Pulls off Historic Upset Against Germany in World Cup Qualifier
Elgiv Elmas's goal in the 85th minute put an end to Germany's 35-match unbeaten streak, which included 18 consecutive victories in World Cup qualifiers. This marked Das Mannschaft's first World Cup qualifier loss in two decades, with their last home defeat happening twenty years prior, a 5:1 defeat against England in 2001.
Despite having 70% of the ball possession in the first half, Germany found themselves trailing at the half due to Goran Pandev's goal just before the break. The formidable City midfielder Ilkay Gündogan levelled the score in the 63rd minute, but Elmas's dramatic winner for North Macedonia ensued, sparking jubilant celebrations in the Schauinsland-Leisen Arena, Duisburg.
Chelsea striker Timo Werner had an opportunity to put Germany back in front after a cross but failed to convert. In the closing stages, Löw's men had a few chances to salvage a draw, but it wasn't meant to be against the ever-resilient underdogs.
The disappointment was shared by both players and fans alike. Löw, struggling with squad fatigue, lamented his team's sluggish performance, and the mismatch in ability between the two teams went unnoticed.
Ahead of the match, the German squad showcased transparent shirts supporting human rights in an effort to keep attention focused on workers' rights in Qatar, the venue for the upcoming World Cup. The gesture mirrored previous displays from the Norway and Netherlands teams, who had also raised awareness for this cause following reports of mistreatment of migrant workers in Qatar.
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Interestingly, North Macedonia previously recorded their first victory against Germany at the 2013 World Championship, with a scoreline of 34-30, during the group phase. However, this does not coincide with a World Cup qualifier or an unbeaten streak for Germany as covered in the text. To dig further into this historic match's context, you may wish to explore specific World Cup qualifier results and historical data not included within the given information sources.
