The biggest shock results of the international break

Is international football predictable? Often. But September’s break provided some upsets across the globe. Here are five of the biggest shock results from the international break.

Slovakia stunned Germany in their Group A opener to blow the group wide open. Goals from David Hancko and David Strelec secured an impressive 2-0 win over the four-time world champions. Germany had 70% of the ball but were unable to find a route past their stubborn hosts.

Germany survived a scare to bounce back with a win over Northern Ireland, though it’s Slovakia who top the group after a late victory in Luxembourg.

– Thursday, 4 September 2025

Sweden’s hopes of World Cup qualification are in jeopardy after a torrid start in Group B. After twice squandering a lead to draw in Slovenia, the Swedes were beaten 2-0 in Kosovo in their second fixture.

Having not played at club level due to a transfer saga that resulted in a British record move to Liverpool on deadline day, Alexander Isak was restricted to substitute appearances in each fixture. Will his lack of match fitness prove costly?

– Monday, 8 September 2025

Chad ripped up the form book to hold Ghana in CAF Group I, earning their first point of the qualification campaign against the group leaders.

Chad had lost six straight games, scoring just twice, before an 89th-minute equaliser from Célestin Ecua stunned unbeaten Ghana and claimed a point.

The Republic of Ireland’s dismal defeat to Armenia joins the archives of the nation’s most embarrassing losses. Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side were distinctly second-best against a side ranked only 105th in FIFA’s world rankings, 45 places below The Boys in Green.

It was a result that leaves Ireland with a huge uphill task to reach a first World Cup since 2002, bottom of the group after two games, and with two clashes against group leaders Portugal still to come.

– Tuesday, 9 September 2025

After an unbeaten start to 2025, this was a real low. Another rebuild may be on the horizon.

Trips to Bolivia can often be hazardous for South American opponents, with El Alto Municipal Stadium located at an altitude of 4,088 meters above sea level. Only Argentina and Ecuador have returned from Bolivia with three points in 2026 World Cup qualification, and Brazil were the latest team to come unstuck.

Miguel Terceros’s penalty earned Bolivia a 1-0 win over a Brazil side that was already qualified and rotated, the result Bolivia needed to keep their qualification hopes alive. A first World Cup appearance since 1994 is still possible after Bolivia leapfrogged Venezuela to qualify for the inter-confederation play-offs.

– Wednesday, 10 September 2025

Read – Five Premier League players who shone in the international break

See more – The best value transfers in the Premier League this summer

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