Germany become first country to qualify for 2022 FIFA World Cup
Germany secures place in 18th consecutive World Cup finals
Germany booked their place in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup in style after a 4-0 thrashing of North Macedonia in their Group J encounter. Die Mannschaft are the first team to qualify for the World Cup after hosts Qatar.
Having lost miserably at home to North Macedonia in their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Duisburg in March, the Germans were eager to make amends with a quality showing in the match.
The Germans were made to work and only opened the scoring in the 50th minute through 22-year-old Chelsea star Kai Havertz. A counter-attack was sprung by Serge Gnabry, whose pass released club teammate Thomas Muller in a 3v1 situation, and the veteran passed the ball to Havertz to roll it into an empty net and give the visitors the lead.
Much-maligned for a horrible miss in the reverse fixture, Chelsea striker Timo Werner redeemed himself as he doubled Germany’s advantage with a confident strike on the half-volley in the 70th minute after he received the ball inside the box.
Werner scored again just three minutes later to take him to 21 goals for the German national team in only 47 appearances. The striker picked up a loose ball in the North Macedonia box before curling an effort beyond the despairing dive of the goalkeeper to put Die Mannschaft three goals up.
Bayern Munich’s teenage sensation Jamal Musiala became the second-youngest player to ever score for Germany as he slotted a shot past the North Macedonia goalkeeper after being teed up by fellow teenager Karim Adeyemi in the 84th. It was the teenager’s first goal for the national team.
Germany have booked their place in their 18th consecutive FIFA World Cup, putting them in second place on the longest qualifying streak behind only Brazil (21). It was also their 20th time of reaching the FIFA World Cup, putting them behind only Brazil.
The victory over North Macedonia has made Die Mannschaft the first nation to book their place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar despite having two games left to play in the qualifiers.
