Slovakia shocks Germany: 2-0 defeat derails World Cup qualifying start

Germany made a losing start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, as they were beaten 2-0 by Slovakia in Bratislava.

Goals from David Hancko and David Strelec settled the Group A clash in favour of the hosts at Stadion Tehelne pole.

Slovakia came close to breaking the deadlock midway through the first half, with Oliver Baumann denying Leo Sauer.

At the other end, Martin Dubravka thwarted Maximilian Mittelstadt, while new Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade headed over from close range.

It was Francesco Calzona’s side who struck the opening goal three minutes before half-time, as Strelec drilled a return ball across the area for Hancko, who had continued his run after driving across halfway, to sweep home a neat first-time finish.

Germany sought a response early in the second half with Leon Goretzka calling Dubravka into action. 

Yet, they fell further behind in the 55th minute when Norbert Gyomber helped a high ball onto Strelec, who twisted away from Antonio Rudiger before bending into the top corner on his left foot.

Dubravka was alert to tip Lubomir Satka’s sliced clearance over the bar in stoppage time, but that was as close as Julian Nagelsmann’s side came to responding as their campaign began with a surprise defeat.

Following their defeats in the Nations League semi-finals and third-place play-off in June, Germany have now lost three successive competitive games for the first time as a unified nation.

The four-time world champions also suffered only their second ever World Cup qualifying defeat by more than one goal, the other coming when they were famously beaten 5-1 by England in September 2001.

Nagelsmann’s side have failed to register a single clean sheet in their last six matches.

Slovakia, meanwhile, have now avoided defeat in each of their last seven World Cup qualifying games when scoring first, stretching back to a 2-1 loss against England exactly eight years ago to the day.