Germany Suffers Third Consecutive World Cup Qualifying Loss in Slovakia

Germany suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Slovakia in Bratislava, marking their first away loss in a World Cup qualifier and their third consecutive competitive loss, raising concerns about their 2026 World Cup ambitions. Slovakia took the lead just before halftime through David Hancko, and David Strelec doubled the lead early in the second half, despite Germany showing brief signs of aggression after the break. Germany's coach Julian Nagelsmann criticized his team's lack of emotional intensity and suggested a need to prioritize players who will fight hard, as the team struggled with passing, defense, and overall tactical execution. Slovakia capitalized on Germany's weaknesses with effective passing and finishing, with standout performances from players like Leo Sauer and David Strelec. The defeat continues Germany's poor run, including failures to advance past the first round in the last two World Cups and a lack of clean sheets in recent matches. Slovakia, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten streak in World Cup qualifiers when scoring first, demonstrating resilience and momentum in their campaign.