Poland stunned World Cup winners Germany 2-0 last night to earn their first ever victory over their neighbours and take control of Euro 2016 qualifying Group D.
Arkadiusz Milik put them ahead with a well-timed header in the 51st minute and Sebastian Mila added another late in the game to hand the hosts a memorable victory against bitter rivals Germany after 18 previous failed attempts.
Poland, who had scored once in their previous six competitive meetings and had lost 12 of 18 games against either Germany or West Germany, now go top of Group D on six points, as many as Ireland. Germany are third on three after two games.
Wearing the black and red striped tops they had last worn during their 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the World Cup semi-final in July, Germany had none of their usual sharpness.
The Germans were made to work hard against a solid Polish backline in front of a fiery 57,000 crowd.
Towering central defenders Kamil Glik and Lukasz Szukala also made sure to eliminate any aerial threat from Mats Hummels, playing his first game for Germany since the World Cup final.
The visitors, missing half a dozen starters including Bastian Schweinsteiger and Marco Reus, had their best chance in the 38th minute when Mario Goetze floated a cross to the far post but winger Karim Bellarabi, on his debut, fired wired.
With Poland tiring towards half-time, the Germans carved out several more good chances but neither Thomas Mueller twice nor Bella-rabi could find the net.
But the hosts stunned Germany six minutes after the restart with Milik heading in a pinpoint Lukasz Piszczek cross.
As expected it turned out to be a one-sided second half with Germany attacking and the Poles waiting to hit back on the break.
Germany substitute Lukas Podolski shook the crossbar with his first touch of the ball before Mila sealed Poland’s win when he tapped in from a Robert Lewandowski assist in the 88th.
Ireland thrashed lowly Gibraltar 7-0 at the Aviva Stadium as a Robbie Keane hat-trick inside 12 minutes helped Martin O’Neil’s side make it two qualifying wins from two.
Keane, who climbed further up the list of all-time international goalscorers with his 63rd, 64th and 65th goals for his country, tapped in Ireland’s first after just six minutes and made it two eight minutes later.
He grabbed his third from the penalty spot on 18 minutes to complete the fastest hat-trick in European qualifying history, beating Marco van Basten’s three in the first 23 minutes against Malta 24 years ago.
Gibraltar, who were also beaten 7-0 by Poland in their European qualification debut last month, held Ireland at bay until winger James McClean scored two early second-half goals either side of a comical own goal from goalkeeper Jordan Perez.
Norwich City midfielder Wes Hoolahan added the seventh on 56 minutes as the visitors became utterly overwhelmed and the unfortunate Perez received a standing ovation from the home fans as he was substituted shortly afterwards.
Ireland, who face vastly different opposition in world champions Germany in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday, were unable to add one more goal that would have equalled their record 8-0 victory over Malta in 1983.
At Ibrox, Scotland dominated their qualifier against Georgia but ultimately were grateful to settle for a 28th-minute own goal to gift them their first victory of the campaign.
Gordon Strachan’s improving team, who gave Germany a scare before succumbing to defeat last month, opened their account in Group D thanks to a little bit of good fortune amid their monopoly of possession and territory.
The key moment came midway through the first half when Georgia’s goalkeeper, Giorgi Loria, failed to deal with a teasing cross from Andrew Roberston, only succeeding in pushing the ball out to Shaun Maloney on the right edge of the box.
Results
Group A (tomorrow)
Kazakhstan vs Czech Rep. - 18.00
Iceland vs Netherlands - 20.45
Latvia vs Turkey - 20.45
Group B (tomorrow)
Andorra vs Israel - 20.45
Bosnia vs Belgium - 20.45
Wales vs Cyprus - 20.45
Group C (today)
Ukraine vs Macedonia - 18.00
Belarus vs Slovakia - 20.45
Luxembourg vs Spain - 20.45
Group D
Ireland 7
Keane 6, 14, 18p; McClean 46, 53; Perez 51og; Hoolahan 56;
Gibraltar 0
Scotland 1
Khubutia 28og;
Georgia 0
Poland 2
Milik 51; Mila 88;
Germany 0
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Poland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 6 |
| Ireland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 6 |
| Scotland | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Germany | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Georgia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Gibraltar | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
Group E (today)
Estonia vs England - 18.00
Lithuania vs Slovenia - 20.45
Tuesday, October 14
San Marino vs Switzerland - 20.45
Group F
Romania 1
Rusescu 45;
Hungary 1
Dzsudzsak 82;
Finland 1
Hurme 55;
Greece 1
Karelis 24;
N. Ireland 2
McAuley 6; Lafferty 20;
Faroe Islands 0
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| N. Ireland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Finland | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Romania | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Hungary | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Greece | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| F. Islands | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
Group G (today)
Austria vs Montenegro - 18.00
Russia vs Moldova - 18.00
Sweden vs Liechtenstein - 20.45
Group H (tomorrow)
Croatia vs Azerbaijan - 20.45
Malta vs Italy - 20.45
Norway vs Bulgaria - 20.45
Group I
Armenia 1
Arzumanyan 73;
Serbia 1
Tosic 90;
Albania 1
Lenjani 38;
Denmark 1
Vibe 81;
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Denmark | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Albania | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Serbia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Armenia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Portugal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Friendly match
France 2
Benzema 3; Pogba 69;
Portugal 1
Quaresma 77;