Max Kruse scores the winning goal as World champions Germany beat Georgia 2-1 to book their place at Euro 2016.
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Thomas Mueller had given Germany the lead shortly after half-time, converting a penalty for his ninth goal in the qualifiers, before it was cancelled out nearly immediately by Jaba Kankava.
“This is not our standard, there’s still a lot of work ahead of us”, he added.
Max Kruse scored three minutes after coming on as a substitute for Germany to finish top in Group D, one point above Poland, which had Robert Lewandowski to thank for the victor against Ireland with his 13th goal in qualifying.
Poland endured a similarly tough contest in Group D’s other crucial fixture, as the Republic of Ireland proved a stern test after Grzegorz Krychowiak’s stunning 13th-minute long-range opener – Jonathan Walters hitting back from the penalty spot a few moments later.
Low was understandably unhappy with the 1-0 defeat at the Aviva Stadium last night, and while his team are practically guaranteed Euro 2016 qualification (with just a home game against Georgia left to play), the coach couldn’t resist indulging in a case of “sauer grapes” when asked what went wrong.
“Usually we cruised through but this time we kept dropping points”.
“We know that is not what we demand from ourselves”.
“We have a big month now in November and we have to get going again”.
A Steven Fletcher hat-trick helped Scotland to a 6-0 thrashing of Gibraltar in Faro.
Elsewhere, Germany limped past Georgia to secure their place at the tournament as group winners. “We just failed to capitalise on our many chances”.
Amid Germany’s succession of chances, Georgia had one of the best opportunities of the first period as Valeri Kazaishvili teed-up Tornike Okriashvili but Manuel Neuer produced a fine reaction stop.
Portugal finished with 21 points from eight matches. It tied the mark set by David Healy of Northern Ireland in Euro 2008 qualifying.
Also in Group F, already-qualified Northern Ireland drew 1-1 with Finland in Helsinki after allowing a late equalizer by Paulus Arajuuri.
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Greece, the 2004 European champions, belatedly recorded their first victory with Panagiotis Kone’s 86th-minute strike leading them past Hungary 4-3.
