O'Shea denies Germany in the last minute

Germany dropped two points against Ireland after a last-minute equalizer from Ireland's John O'Shea cancelled out Toni Kroos' earlier effort.

Joachim Löw made two injury-enforced changes to his starting line-up. With both Christoph Kramer and Andre Schürrle ill, Matthias Ginter and Julian Draxler stepped in respectively.

Ireland sat deep and absorbed a Germany team intent on making good on their defeat in Poland. Erik Durm came closest early on, crashing a long-range volley onto the bar. Fellow wingback Antonio Rüdiger headed wide unmarked in the area after a neat free kick routine as Germany continued their search for a goal.

No way past Green wall

The hosts continued to have more of the ball but couldn't find a way through the wall of green in front of them. Martin O'Neill's men failed to test Manuel Neuer in the first half, but were resolute in denying their hosts. Even from set-pieces, a situation Germany executed well during the World Cup, Löw's men lacked inspiration. Draxler's quick feet and shot forced a save out of Forde, but it was nothing more than a half chance.

Löw reacted and brought on Lukas Podolski at the break, but it was Ireland who had the first chance, Keane testing Neuer at the near post. It was a brief moment though as Germany attacked again. Podolski fired a long-range effort that was deflected wide, before Forde had to palm over a stinging Toni Kroos effort.

Kroos brings relief, O'Shea heartache

Then Müller failed to get enough of a touch from close-range and both Podolski and Götze were denied a penalty as it looked like it might just not be Germany's day all over again. Kroos came to the rescue though. A low drive from the edge of the box beat Forde, clipped the inside of the post and nestled comfortingly in the back of the net.

The goal relaxed Germany and they nearly made it two after some superb interplay by Kroos, Müller and Mario Götze, but Forde beat away the latter's shot.

With time running out though, Germany looked nervous. Durm had to made a heroic block to deny substitute Wes Hoolahan from close range, but with the final kick of the game Germany's hearts were broken. A throw-in ended in a deep cross, substitute Jeff Hendrick headed the ball back into the area and John O'Shea, on his 100th appearance for Ireland, got there ahead of Hummels to guide the ball into the far corner.

The result leaves Germany with one point from their two October qualifiers and the unusual position of third in Group D.

Elsewhere in Europe

Most of the other results on the night paled in comparison to the concerning abandonement of the game between Serbia and Albania. The game had to be stopped prematurely after a drone flew low over the pitch, and an ensuing argument broke out between opposing players.

Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a 95th minute winner to break a defiant Denmark, while Poland and Scotland drew 2-2 in an exciting game.

Switzerland got their first win of the qualifying campaign, beating San Marino 4-0 away from home. Frankfurt's Haris Seferovic scored a brace, Bayern Munich's Xherdan Shaqiri got one but Wolfsburg's Ricardo Rodriguez missed a penalty.

Neymar scored all the goals in Brazil's 4-0 win over Japan in an international friendly. France, also not playing competitively, beat Armenia 3-0, while Lionel Messi scored twice in Argentina's 7-0 win in Hong Kong.

Results:

Denmark 0-1 Portugal
Faroe Islands 0-1 Hungary
Finland 0-2 Romania
Gibraltar 0-3 Georgia
Greece 0-2 Northern Ireland
Poland 2-2 Scotland
San Marino 0-4 Switzerland
Abandoned: Serbia 0-0 Albania

Japan 0-4 Brazil
Armenia 0-3 France
Hong Kong 0-7 Argentina
South Korea 1-3 Costa Rica
Qatar 1-0 Australia