Germany faltered again as they lost 1-0 to Poland in an international friendly, while France maintained their perfect European Qualifying record against Gibraltar. Less than a year before hosting the continental competition, the Euro 2024 hosts continued their dismal streak. Only the second victory for Poland over Germany for the hosts in 90 years was secured by Jakub Kiwior’s rebounding header, and Germany has now won just three of its previous 10 international games. Jakub Blaszczykowski almost caught the Germans off guard on Monday when he chased down a deep cross, but Malick Thiaw’s well-timed block stopped the 37-year-old at the outside of the box. The Germans needed two late goals to salvage a 3-3 draw against Ukraine.
With goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen saving Jakub Kaminski’s attempt from a close angle, the hosts kept getting through the fragile German defense. When Kiwior’s glancing header bounced off the ground first and then drifted past Ter Stegen in the 31st minute, the custodian was defeated. Ter Stegen got a touch on the ball but was unable to deflect it. After the restart, the Germans increased their pressure and troubled Robin Gosens before Joshua Kimmich’s attempt bounced against the crossbar four minutes later.
Thiaw, who was playing for Germany for the first time, nearly scored an equalizer with a deft turn and shot in the area, but Wojciech Szczesny made the save of the game. The strain that Germany and coach Hansi Flick will now be under when they return was created by a series of late opportunities, but they were unable to score an equalizer. The Germans, who face Colombia next week, have less than a year to assemble a competitive squad for their home Euros, but they haven’t demonstrated any real indications of improvement since their disastrous first-round World Cup elimination in Qatar last year.
France won 3-0 over Gibraltar to take first place in Group B of the European Qualification. With their third straight victory, Didier Deschamps’ team tops the group with nine points, three more than Greece, whom they meet on Monday. Gibraltar, which is now in last position, will go to the Republic of Ireland in an effort to get their first points.
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