Germany suffered a shocking 2-0 defeat to Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier, marking their first-ever away loss in such a match. Northern Ireland, on the other hand, secured a 3-1 victory against Luxembourg. Spain dominated Bulgaria with a 3-0 win, while Poland and the Netherlands drew 1-1. Belgium thrashed Liechtenstein 6-0, and Turkey edged Georgia 3-2 in a match filled with drama.
In a stunning upset, Germany suffered their first-ever away defeat in a World Cup qualifier, falling 2-0 to Slovakia in Bratislava. The loss marks a significant setback for the four-time world champions, who had previously maintained an impressive unbeaten record on the road in qualifying matches. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland celebrated a hard-fought 3-1 victory against 10-man Luxembourg, providing a much-needed boost to their campaign.
The German national team, with ambitions set on winning the 2026 World Cup, faced a determined Slovakian side that exploited defensive vulnerabilities. The match began with an early scare for Germany as Lubomir Satka missed a golden opportunity to put Slovakia ahead in the opening seconds. Goalkeeper Oliver Baumann was called into action in the 21st minute, making a superb save to deny Leo Sauer. However, Slovakia's persistent attacking efforts paid off in the 42nd minute when Florian Wirtz lost possession, allowing the hosts to launch a quick counter-attack. David Hancko capitalized on the opportunity, scoring with a well-placed finish to give Slovakia a 1-0 lead.
After a toothless first-half performance, Germany emerged with renewed aggression after the break. However, Slovakia once again struck against the run of play in the 55th minute. David Strelec skillfully navigated past Antonio Rüdiger before curling a precise shot past Baumann, extending Slovakia's lead to 2-0. Despite the presence of new Newcastle signing Nick Woltemade, the German side struggled to mount a serious comeback, lacking the necessary creativity and attacking prowess to break down the Slovakian defense.
In other World Cup qualifying action, Northern Ireland secured a valuable 3-1 victory away against Luxembourg. Jamie Reid opened the scoring for Northern Ireland, slotting home after Isaac Price's penalty was saved. Luxembourg responded with an equalizer from Aiman Dardari, who scored his first senior international goal. However, Northern Ireland regained the lead shortly after the break when Shea Charles found the net. Luxembourg's hopes of a comeback were further diminished when Seid Korac was sent off for a second bookable offense. Justin Devenny sealed the victory for Northern Ireland with a well-taken goal, securing a crucial three points for his side.
Spain dominated their Group E opener against Bulgaria, cruising to a 3-0 victory. Mikel Oyarzabal set the tone with an early goal in the fifth minute, followed by Marc Cucurella doubling the lead on the half-hour mark. Mikel Merino added a third from a corner, solidifying Spain's control of the match. Meanwhile, Poland salvaged a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in Rotterdam, thanks to a late equalizer from Aston Villa's Matty Cash. The result represents a significant boost for Poland's qualifying hopes and a setback for the Dutch ambitions.
Belgium delivered a commanding performance against Liechtenstein, securing a 6-0 victory. Maxim De Cuyper's header initiated the scoring, while Youri Tielemans contributed with two goals after the break. Arthur Theate, Kevin De Bruyne, and Malick Fofana further contributed to the scoreline, completing a dominant display by the Belgian side. In another match, Turkey emerged victorious in a 3-2 encounter against Georgia, despite finishing with 10 men. Mert Muldur's early goal provided Turkey with the lead, followed by Kerem Akturkoglu scoring on either side of halftime. Zuriko Davitashvili responded with a goal for Georgia, but tempers flared when Baris Alper Yilmaz received a red card for a late challenge. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added a late consolation goal for Georgia in added time.
These World Cup qualifying matches have provided fans with thrilling moments, unexpected results, and captivating performances. As the journey towards the 2026 World Cup continues, teams will strive to secure their spots and showcase their talent on the global stage.