While there were no headlining matchups, the latest cycle of international qualifying across the globe provided us with some unexpected upsets — if you know where to look.
North Macedonia over Germany and Luxembourg beating the Republic of Ireland were tabbed as the biggest surprises of the international break, but there plenty more stunning results from across Europe and beyond.
These were the best of the bunch:
DUISBURG, Germany — North Macedonia scored an 85th-minute winner through Eljif Elmas to stun hosts Germany 2-1 in their World Cup Group J qualifier on Wednesday as the Balkan country celebrated their greatest international victory.
Elmas slotted in after the four-times world champions had controlled the game but struggled to create chances against the disciplined North Macedonians, ranked 65th in the world.
GERMANY LOSE TO NORTH MACEDONIA
Rangers' Europa League tie against Slavia Prague made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
During the second leg, which resulted in a 2-0 win for the Czech side, Slavia player Ondrej Kudela approached Rangers' Glen Kamara and whispered something into his ear, which sparked a flare-up as a visibly angry Kamara and Connor Goldson went after the player. Kamara and his teammates allege that Kudela called the Finland international a "f***** monkey.”
Un tuit, como suele ocurrir en esta era, fue suficiente para prenderle fuego al primer partido en la historia entre España y Kosovo que se juega este miércoles 31 de marzo, en Sevilla.
⚠️ OFICIAL | @LUISENRIQUE21 dará a conocer la próxima lista el lunes 15 de marzo.
España inicia el camino hacia #Catar2022 contra Grecia, Georgia y territorio de Kosovo.
The top two teams in UEFA World Cup Qualifying Group I will face off on Wednesday as Poland travels to Wembley to play Gareth Southgate's England.
England opened up qualifying with an expectedly lopsided 5-0 victory over San Marino last week in which Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin bagged a brace. Southgate's side next took on Albania and came out victorious thanks to goals from captain Harry Kane and Mason Mount. Southgate has announced that Mount, who missed training ahead of the Poland game, should be fine to take part.
LUXEMBOURG - Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal of the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign but then missed a sitter as the visitors came from behind to beat Luxembourg 3-1 on Tuesday.
The hosts went into the match full of confidence after winning 1-0 away to Ireland and took a shock lead against the European champions when Portuguese-born Gerson Rodrigues glanced in a header on the half-hour for his second goal in two games.
GOAL FOR LUXEMBOURG!!
Cristiano Ronaldo puede ganar un campeonato universal y salvarnos del apocalipsis con sus goles, pero para mí solo hay un Ronaldo y no es él. Ronaldo, hoy y siempre, es el brasileño, el Fenómeno. Su carisma natural es la gran diferencia y cada vez que tiene una "entrevista íntima" lo saca a relucir.
After coming back from 2-0 down to earn a controversial draw against Portugal on Saturday, Dragan Stojković's Serbia defeated Azerbaijan on Tuesday thanks to a brace by Aleksandar Mitrović.
The Fulham man kept up his outstanding form for the international break and has now scored five goals in Serbia's three World Cup qualifiers.
Waking up and looking at Tuesday’s schedule of international football, I couldn’t help but notice the final score of one match that had already finished out in Chiba, Japan. The Japan national team had put up two touchdowns — a fortnight of scoring — on Mongolia in World Cup qualifying.
The 14-0 win isn’t the biggest in Japan’s history (15-0 over the Philippines in 1967), nor was it the biggest defeat in 190th-ranked Mongolia’s (15-0 to Uzbekistan in 1998).
BELGRADE - A Cristiano Ronaldo goal not given in a dramatic World Cup qualifier between Serbia and Portugal would have stood if the two football associations had agreed before the game to use goal-line technology, UEFA said on Monday.
Portugal captain Ronaldo was left fuming and got booked for dissent after his stoppage-time effort in Saturday's Group A 2-2 draw at Serbia was cleared by Stefan Mitrović after the ball had crossed the line as shown by television replays.