Germany shocked by Slovakia with third loss in row as World Cup path begins

Germany statesman their World Cup qualifying radical with decision by Slovakia, the 3rd consecutive nonaccomplishment for four-time winners.

Four-time satellite champions Germany suffered their archetypal distant nonaccomplishment successful a World Cup qualifier aft their daze 2-0 decision by hosts Slovakia successful their opening qualifier for the 2026 tournament.

The Germans, who person acceptable a extremity of winning the 2026 World Cup, had ne'er earlier mislaid a World Cup qualifier connected the road, and they person present mislaid their past 3 consecutive matches, pursuing defeats by Portugal and France successful the Nations League successful June.

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“We did not amusement immoderate emotionality successful our crippled today. In presumption of emotions, the opponents were miles up of us,” Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann said aft Thursday’s defeat. “We privation to spell to the World Cup, but contiguous we were miles distant from that.

“I privation to spot that emotionality. We picked the champion players successful Germany, but possibly we person to enactment little value connected prime and much connected players who volition springiness it each retired there.”

The Germans person not made an interaction successful large planetary tournaments since past winning the World Cup successful 2014.

Nagelsmann’s squad were connected the backmost ft with the Slovaks missing a aureate accidental successful the opening seconds with Lubomir Satka. Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann past denied Leo Sauer successful their one-on-one with a superb prevention successful the 21st minute, successful aboriginal warnings that the visitors did not heed.

Slovakia’s violative play paid disconnected successful the 42nd erstwhile Germany’s Florian Wirtz mislaid possession and the hosts launched a speedy interruption with David Hanchko completing it with a good finish.

Germany, toothless successful the archetypal half, looked much assertive aft the break, and Leon Goretzka came close. However, Slovakia struck against the tally of play, with David Strelec sending defender Antonio Rudiger the incorrect mode earlier curling a changeable past Baumann successful the 55th.

“The archetypal 5 minutes of the 2nd fractional were a spot brighter, but the remainder was beauteous grim,” Nagelsmann said.

“I spot my team, but they person to recognize that simply being a amended subordinate than the hostile is not capable if you don’t amusement willingness and desire. You won’t get results with the handbrake on.”

The Germans, who were eliminated successful the archetypal circular of the erstwhile 2 World Cups, were incapable to equine a superior comeback, lacking immoderate ideas and punch up front.

Slovakia question to Luxembourg for their adjacent Group A lucifer connected Sunday, portion Germany big Northern Ireland.

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies