World Cup Qualifiers: North Macedonia Hand Germany First World Cup Qualifying Loss In 20 Years

Germany fell to a humiliating 2-1 home loss to North Macedonia on Wednesday, handing the hosts their first World Cup qualifying defeat in 20 years and piling the pressure on coach Joachim Loew.

Germany fell to a humiliating 2-1 home loss to North Macedonia on Wednesday, handing the hosts their first World Cup qualifying defeat in 20 years and piling the pressure on coach Joachim Loew. "The disappointment is huge," said a crestfallen Loew after the final whistle in Duisburg. Napoli midfielder Eljif Elmas scored the winner five minutes from time, after Ilkay Gundogan's penalty had drawn Germany level following 37-year-old striker Goran Pandev's first-half opener. The four-time world champions have never failed to qualify for football's biggest tournament, but did not enter the inaugural edition in 1930 and were banned in 1950. However, Loew's men are already languishing third in the Group J table, three points adrift of leaders Armenia and behind the Macedonians on goal difference. "We had a good basis after the first two games (wins over Iceland and Romania)," added Loew after Germany's first World Cup qualifying loss since the infamous 5-1 thrashing by England in 2001.