Germany’s qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup got off to the worst possible start on September 4th as Julian Nagelsmann’s side were stunned 2-0 in Slovakia. Die Mannschaft hadn’t lost a qualifier – either for the European Championships or its global counterpart – in over four years heading into their trip to Bratislava. But that didn’t bother the hosts one bit.
Slovakia Stuns Germany in Bratislava
Both Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade started for the visitors, two players who cost a combined €210 million with their respective moves to Liverpool and Newcastle United. As well as that, household names such as Antonio Rudiger, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, and Serge Gnabry were all in the starting 11.
But even so, the visitors looked out of sorts and fell behind on the stroke of halftime, courtesy of new Atletico Madrid man Dávid Hancko. Ten minutes after the break, the Germans had conceded again, this time through Middlesbrough striker David Strelec.
As the game progressed, the four-time world champions never looked like pulling a goal back, let alone an equalizer, slumping to a 2-0 defeat and leaving their qualification hopes in tatters already. And in the aftermath of their Bratislava nightmare, online gambling sites have been quick to respond.
The popular online gambling at Bovada platform has since pushed Germany all the way out to 10/1 to win the World Cup in North America last summer. While that price is still good enough for a position as the sixth favorites, it is still well clear of 9/2 frontrunners and reigning European champions Spain.
As mentioned, the defeat in Slovakia was Germany’s first qualifying defeat in four years. But who were the last three teams to beat the fearsome Mannschaft in such a fixture? Let’s take a look.
North Macedonia Spring the Shock in Duisburg
Back in March 2021, North Macedonia headed to Germany in a bid to build on their momentum. They had just qualified for a major tournament for the first time in history in the form of Euro 2020, and with the tournament delayed for a year due to global events, they were still waiting to step onto the hallowed turf of a marquee competition. As such, they played with a point to prove in every game in the run-up to the European Championships, postponed till the summer of 2021.
That was the case for their trip to Germany in their third game in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, and they were about to spring an almighty upset. Veteran striker Goran Pandev gave the Macedonians a shock first-half lead when he slid past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen on the stroke of half-time. The hosts would strike back in the second half when Ilkay Gundogan equalized from the penalty spot.
With the game looking like it was heading for a draw, Eljif Elmas struck from close range to secure the visitors a famous 2-1 victory. The defeat was Germany’s first in World Cup qualifiers specifically since they were thumped 5-1 by England 20 years prior, snapping a 35-game unbeaten streak.
Beaten By their Archrivals in Hamburg
Two years before that shocker in Duisburg, and Germany was once again in trouble on home turf, this time against archrivals the Netherlands. Die Mannschaft were at the beginning of their recent downturn, having been dumped out of the 2018 World Cup in the group stage and falling to the vaunted world champions’ curse. But even so, they still found themselves battling it out at the top of their Euro 2020 qualifying group alongside their Oranje rivals.
Things were going according to plan when Gnabry gave the hosts an early 1-0 lead, and it was a lead they held up until halftime. Then, in the second stanza, the visitors took charge. Two goals in six minutes from Frenkie de Jong and a Jonathan Tah own goal flipped the game on its head, and while the Germans would equalize through a Toni Kroos penalty, the Netherlands weren’t finished yet. Late strikes from Donyell Malen and Gini Wijnaldum handed the visitors a stunning 4-2 victory, marking their first victory on their rivals’ turf since November 2002.
Shane Long Downs the World Champions in Dublin
Back in 2015, Germany were the reigning World Champions following their triumph in Brazil the year prior. In qualifying for Euro 2016, they stuttered somewhat, but with two games remaining, they had already secured their spot at the France-hosted showpiece. The Republic of Ireland, however, had not, and they welcomed Joachim Low’s side to Dublin in dire need of a victory.
Despite having 67% of the possession and 12 shots to the hosts’ eight, the World Cup holders were unable to find a way through. With 20 minutes remaining, the game was still goalless. Step up, Shane Long. Goalkeeper Shay Given’s hopeful long ball managed to clear the entirety of the German defence, allowing the former Reading hitman to race clear and smash past Manuel Neuer to send the Aviva Stadium into delirium.
The Boys in Green would hold on to secure a 1-0 win, and while they didn’t qualify for Euro 2016 automatically, they did manage to squeeze through in the playoffs. Without this unexpected victory against Germany, it wouldn’t have been possible.