Albania pulled off a major shock by downing Portugal as world champions Germany denied battling Scotland and minnows Gibraltar were demolished by Poland in the opening salvoes of Euro 2016 qualifying on Sunday. Portugal, first round casualties at the World Cup, were sorely missing their skipper Cristiano Ronaldo but despite the Real Madrid star's absence the 1-0 loss to a team ranked 71st in the world was a major embarrassment for Paulo Bento's side.
Albania, who have failed to qualify for a European Championships in half a century, humbled the mighty Portuguese in their own back yard. Slavia Prague forward Bekim Balaj struck the killer blow shortly after the restart, with the home side walking off the pitch in Aveiro at the final whistle to boos from their supporters. "It's a really bad result," conceded Portugal striker Nani. "We've started qualifying badly, now we have to pick ourselves up. We have to improve."
Down on Portugal's Algarve coast, minnows Gibraltar were given a lesson on their introduction to competitive internationals as a UEFA member by Poland as Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski scored four times in a 7-0 romp. In Dortmund, Germany, beaten last week in a friendly by Argentina, got their qualifying campaign up and running with a 2-1 defeat of a spirited Scotland. A goal in each half from Bayern Munich attacker Thomas Mueller ensured they won their first competitive fixture since the World Cup.
Scotland were rewarded for a positive second-half approach when winger Ikechi Anya raced clear to equalise on 66 minutes. But the visitors failed to clear a corner four minutes later and Mueller capitalised to thump home his 24th international goal. Mueller's winner denied Gordon Strachan's side what would have been a precious point in a group that also includes the Republic of Ireland, Poland, Georgia and Gibraltar.
Scotland were unable to fashion a second equaliser and the night ended on a miserable note when Mulgrew was sent off for dissent in stoppage time. The result means Germany have now gone 33 World Cup and European Championship qualifying games without defeat. Everton winger Aiden McGeady got the Republic of Ireland's Euro bid off to a flying start with a 2-1 win over Georgia in Tbilisi.
Northern Ireland also came out of the blocks brightly - Kyle Lafferty and Niall McGinn providing the late goals for a 2-1 win over Hungary in Budapest. Michael O'Neill's side's hopes of registering a first away success in four years looked unlikely when former Watford striker Tamas Priskin headed home a 74th-minute corner.