Germany has qualified for the World Cup thanks to a 0-4 victory on a visit to North Macedonia on Monday evening. Kai Havertz opened the score after the break, after which Timo Werner scored twice. The final chord was played by Jamal Musiala. With the win, Germany leads Group J with 21 points from 8 matches. The lead over Romania, which is second with thirteen points, can no longer be relinquished. North Macedonia (twelve points) and Armenia (twelve) round out the top four.
Manuel Neuer missed Germany’s win against Romania (2-1) due to a minor muscle injury, but returned under the bar against North Macedonia. Left back David Raum of TSG Hoffenheim started for the first time in the Mannschaft. Joshua Kimmich had a good opportunity to open the score in Skopje after two minutes of play. A cross by Havertz towards the far post ended up at the midfielder, who then headed straight at goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski. A shower of opportunities seemed in the making, but Germany failed to create serious opportunities until the 25th minute.
Halfway through the first half, with some luck, the ball fell at Werner’s feet. The attacker had the ball from close range before shooting, but Dimitrievski managed to save by quickly narrowing his goal. North Macedonia showed itself for the first time in the counterstroke. A shot into the short corner by Eljif Elmas, on the other hand, was an easy prey for Neuer. On the stroke of half-time, Werner had the perfect opportunity to break the spell. However, the striker saw his shot from about five meters hit the post. The second half was four minutes away, when Germany finally managed to express their many possessions in the score. Serge Gnabry put Thomas Müller alone in front of the keeper. The attacker put wide on Havertz, who then only had to push the ball into the empty goal: 0-1.
Flick’s team took it easy after the opening goal. Twenty minutes before the end, Germany managed to double the margin. Müller released Werner with a subtle foot movement, who then managed to use his third big opportunity of the match by finishing dry: 0-2. The Chelsea attacker was then loose, as he immediately made his second of the evening. The ball fell at the feet of Werner, who shot into the long corner: 0-3. The final chord was for Musiala. The substitute teenager received the ball from Gnabry and scored his first goal for Germany by shooting the ball low into the right corner: 0-4.