display

Ilkay Gündogan put the ball on perfectly for Timo Werner.

The Chelsea FC striker stood free-standing in front of North Macedonia's goalkeeper.

Werner just had to push the ball in, it would have been 2-1 in the World Cup qualifier against the blatant outsider.

But Werner stumbled the big chance.

As in so many other actions, there was no last will in the German national team.

The result is sobering: Joachim Löw's team embarrassed themselves against number 65 in the world rankings and suffered a deserved 1: 2 defeat in Duisburg.

“Of course that shouldn't happen.

Such a defeat must not happen to us against such an opponent, that is not our claim.

We have to be in top form by the end of May and prepare for the European Championship, ”said Gündogan on RTL.

The midfielder, who had led the team onto the pitch as captain, tried to explain things but couldn't find any.

Gündogan (l.) Scored with a penalty to equalize in the meantime

Source: dpa / Thilo Schmuelgen

The national coach took over this for his captain.

Löw suffered his first defeat in his 33rd and last World Cup qualifying game.

The last competitive game before the European Championship has to give the national coach something to think about.

“The disappointment is huge for all of us.

We looked tired and didn't have the freshness.

We had too many ball contacts.

The opponent was deep, we couldn't find a way to pose problems for North Macedonia, ”said Löw.

Third in the table behind Armenia and North Macedonia

display

But even with the games against Iceland and Romania in the legs, it should have been enough against North Macedonia.

Loew changed his defense after the two victories against Iceland and Romania, although Germany had not conceded a goal in both games.

Instead of a back four, the 61-year-old offered a back three, which repeatedly had problems with the few counterattacks of the guests.

Joachim Löw conceded the first defeat in his 33rd World Cup qualifier

Source: AFP / THILO SCHMUELGEN

“We knew that North Macedonia only had two strikers up front.

Four against two strikers would not be good.

But our defense was not stable today, ”said Löw.

His team showed good approaches in the first two games: “That was a good basis.

We got it on ourselves today. "

But it was not only on the defensive against the blatant outsider.

As in Romania, the German team also missed the best chances.

If it was Werner in the second half, Leon Goretzka Kai Havertz failed before the break.

We didn't take the chances.

This is a construction site for us.

The European Championship hasn't started yet, so I'm not worried about the European Championship, ”said Serge Gnabry.

The qualification for the World Cup in Qatar next year will not continue until September.

Then the national team has to compete in Liechtenstein.

She travels as third in the table behind North Macedonia and Armenia.