Chelsea forward Timo Werner had a night to forget as he missed a sitter in Germany’s World Cup qualifier game against North Macedonia on Thursday.
Joachim Low’s side fell behind after Goran Pandev’s goal on the stroke of half time but they equalised through Ilkay Gundogan’s penalty in the 63rd minute.
Germany then had a great chance to put themselves ahead with 10 minutes remaining as Gundogan raced into North Macedonia’s penalty area before squaring the ball to Werner, who was only eight yards out and had the goal at his mercy.
But the Chelsea striker missed the chance completely as he failed to properly connect with Gundogan’s pass, and the ball went harmlessly wide for a goal kick.
To make matters even worse, Eljif Elmas then put North Macedonia in front in the 85th minute to complete a shock 2-1 win in Duisburg.
Timo Werner, how on earth have you missed that?! ?pic.twitter.com/AW9xY5Fnk0
— Metro Sport (@Metro_Sport) March 31, 2021
The defeat has now left Germany third in Group J, level on six points with North Macedonia and three points behind Armenia, who have won all three of their qualifying matches so far.
Werner, who move to Stamford Bridge in a £47.5 million deal from RB Leipzig last summer, has struggled for form over the winter period for the blues. Since the start of December, he has scored only two goals in 24 games.
Speaking about Werner’s poor form before the international break, Tuchel said: ‘Right now I don’t see why he should be frustrated. And honestly, it’s like I answered before, nobody here is blaming the strikers, this is a team effort to attack and a team effort to defend.
‘We expect our guys to create more chances to be more decisive, yes, because we expect the defends to play at the highest level, so we also expect our strikers [to do the same].
‘In the end it’s my responsibility to put them in the right mindset and the right positions, to let them play regularly, and from there on we go. And maybe all the stuff that you read will hopefully disappear soon.’
