Germany is caught off-guard by Slovakia's unexpected goal, with Debast spearheading Belgium's victory in the match
Belgium kicked off their Group J campaign with a resounding 6-0 victory over Liechtenstein, setting the tone for an exciting qualification journey. The first goal of the match was a beauty, scored by Hancko and assisted by Strelec. Zeno Debast started for Belgium in the match, demonstrating the team's strong lineup.
In another Group J encounter, North Macedonia, who have played one more game than Belgium, secured a hard-fought 3-1 win against Luxembourg. Charles scored the second goal for Northern Ireland in the 46th minute, while Reid opened the scoring in the 7th minute. However, Dardari equalized for Luxembourg in the 30th minute, and despite Devenny's third goal for Northern Ireland in the 70th minute, they were unable to secure a win.
In Group D, Northern Ireland's rivals Wales won 1-0 in Kazakhstan, thanks to Moore's goal in the 24th minute. The match was a close one, with Wales just edging out their opponents.
Meanwhile, in a major upset in Group A, Slovakia defeated Germany 2-0 in the World Cup 2026 qualifying Group A opener. Germany failed to threaten Slovakia, resulting in a loss. The winning goals for Slovakia were scored by Dávid Hancko in the 42nd minute and David Strelec in the 55th minute, securing a 2-0 victory for Slovakia.
Despite the strong performances from Belgium and Slovakia, the standings are close. Belgium has seven points in Group J, one less than North Macedonia. After the opening game, Germany is at the bottom of Group A.
In other news, Lithuania and Malta drew 1-1 in their respective Group J match. Arouca's Jansonas was a substitute for Malta in the match, while Chaves' Muscat started for Malta.
Despite Julian Nagelsmann making substitutions during the Germany-Slovakia match, they had no impact on the outcome, with Slovakia securing a well-deserved victory. The qualification journey is just beginning, and it promises to be an exciting one.
