Historic defeat against Poland

Germany were handed a historic defeat on their long road to the 2016 European Championship in France. Despite bossing the game, the World Champions were beaten 2-0 by Poland in Warsaw on Saturday night, their first defeat of the qualifying campaign in game number two. Strikers Arkadiusz Milik and Sebastian Mila scored the goals that secured our neighbours to the east a very first win against the DFB-Team.

Following the defeat, Germany have slipped to fourth place in Group D behind Poland, Ireland and Scotland. Joachim Löw’s next qualifying opponents are second-placed Ireland (Tuesday, 20:45 CEST), who warmed up for the meeting in Gelsenkirchen by putting seven goals past minnows Gibraltar without response.

The closest Germany came to scoring in Warsaw was a shot against the crossbar from substitute Lukas Podolski nine minutes from time. The defeat in Poland is the first time that the DFB-Team have been beaten in a competitive fixture in over two years – the last one was the 2-1 loss to Italy in the EURO 2012 semi-finals, which took place in the same stadium.

Bellarabi makes his debut - Hummels and Rüdiger return to starting XI

Manager Joachim Löw, who led Germany to their fourth World Cup title in Brazil in the summer, opted to hand Karim Bellarabi his senior debut, with the Leverkusen man taking up a position on the right flank and getting heavily involved with the play. The debutant took the most shots of all DFB players in the first half, but couldn’t quite find the route to goal.

Löw also made two other changes compared to the side that started the 2-1 win over Scotland on 7th September: VfB Stuttgart’s Antonio Rüdiger replaced Sebastian Rudy of 1899 Hoffenheim at right back, while BVB captain Mats Hummels took up injured Schalke captain Benedikt Höwedes’ spot in central defence. Thomas Müller played as the lone striker, while Lukas Podolski started on the bench against the country of his birth.

Disjointed start - chances at a premium

There was barely any goalmouth action in the opening stages of what was also new assistant manager Thomas Schneider’s debut in the Germany dugout alongside Löw. Instead, the 56,924 fans inside the National Stadium in Warsaw witnessed a real midfield battle. The hosts, who celebrated an easy 7-0 win against Gibraltar in their opening qualifier, were proving to be just the tough and defiant opponents that the DFB-Team had anticipated. However, the Germany backline more than had the always dangerous Polish attack featuring Bayern München’s Robert Lewandowski under control.

It wasn’t until the closing stages of the first half that Germany started to show their superiority, as Bellarabi side-footed a cross from Rüdiger just inches wide of the upright. Thomas Müller also failed to find the target after a quick counterattack from the visitors. Germany’s attacks were starting to look more purposeful, but the opening goal continued to elude them. Hummels’ swivelling shot after a corner on the stroke of half time rose high over the crossbar.

Poland go in front - Germany press for an equaliser

The first setback for the away side came shortly after the interval. Mario Götze was dispossessed and Dortmund’s Lukasz Piszczek was able to deliver a pinpoint cross onto striker Milik’s head, and Manuel Neuer was powerless. The World Champions weren’t shaken though and looked to bounce back immediately. However, Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny kept out everything that came his way, including chances from Götze, André Schürrle and another from Bellarabi.

Poland had barely left their own half, but their commendable defensive efforts were still keeping Germany away from the danger area. Löw reacted by bringing on Podolski, Julian Draxler and Max Kruse for some extra firepower. It almost paid dividends within moments as Polish-born Podolski fired a volley towards goal, but with Szczesny finally beaten, the woodwork came to the home side’s rescue. As time ticked away, Poland made the most of German numbers forward and a quick throw-in, and Mila wrapped up the 2-0 victory.