WARSAW: Poland’s 2-0 win over Germany on Saturday ended an 81-year wait for a win against their neighbors and could mark the beginning of a new period of success for the national team, coach Adam Nawalka said The Poles had not beaten Germany in 18 attempts since their first meeting back in 1933, but scored twice against the run of play to snatch an unexpected victory over the World Cup winners, that will only strengthen their motivation to reach Euro 2016.

“In such games a squad gains its identity,” Nawalka said. “I hope this will be the beginning of a new road for the national team.

“We made a small step, but let’s not be too euphoric. We play Scotland on Tuesday and this is our focus now.” Poland, who co-hosted Euro 2012 with Ukraine, but did not qualify for the World Cup in Brazil this year, moved joint top in Group D with Ireland, who face Germany next week.

Their first victory over their far more illustrious neighbors left few Poland fans in the stadium unmoved, with former international and Polish FA chief Zbigniew Boniek talking to reporters with tears in his eyes.

“When I saw the fans coming into the stadium I thought to myself that it would be good if they are not sad when they return home,” said Boniek, a member of Poland’s last great national team that finished third at the 1982 World Cup.

Poland defender Lukasz Piszczek said there was an element of good fortune to their victory after Germany squandered several chances.

“It’s the first win. We are ecstatic,” said Piszczek, whose cross in the 51st minute found Arkadiusz Milik who gave Poland the lead before Sebastian Mila added another late in the game.

“Our people have waited a long time for this. We were defending deep but waited for our chances to break.

“We had a bit of luck as well, but we wrote history today. We have another game on Tuesday but today we will party.” “We are delighted, you could see in the stadium that the supporters have been waiting a long time for this victory,” said Poland defender Lukasz Piszczek.

“We are obviously disappointed, we were too reckless with our chances,” admitted Germany coach Joachim Loew.

The Republic of Ireland are flying high in second in Group D on the strength of a 7-0 drubbing of Gibraltar, with LA Galaxy striker Robbie Keane firing them into a three-goal lead inside the first 20 minutes in Dublin.

Scotland are placed third ahead of the Germans on goal difference after what manager Gordon Strachan rated their best performance under his watch, a 1-0 win over Georgia at Ibrox.

In other results, Northern Ireland saw off the Faroe Islands 2-0 in Belfast to go top of Group F, two former European champions, Greece and Denmark, were held to 1-1 draws by Finland and Albania respectively, and Serbia needed a last minute goal to salvage a point in a 1-1 stalemate in Armenia.

But it was Germany’s shock defeat that stole the headlines.

Ajax striker Milik gave the hosts the lead on 51 minutes, with Mila netting a late second to inflict Germany’s first defeat in a qualifier for seven years.

While Germany will have the chance to put the wheels back on their Euro qualifying campaign against Ireland in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday, Poland will be out to cement their grip on the table against the Scots.

And Piszczek cautioned: “It means a lot for the country, but we need to stay focused and concentrate on our next game on Tuesday.” To put the Warsaw upset into perspective, Germany’s last away defeat in a qualifying match was a 3-0 loss against Portugal in June 2000.

And it was at Warsaw’s National Stadium that they had succumbed to Italy in the Euro 2012 semifinal.

The world champions have struggled since winning the World Cup in Brazil in July after being humbled 4-2 by Argentina in an August friendly, then laboring to a 2-1 win over Scotland last month in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier.

With several stars injured including captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil, Germany coach Joachim Loew handed Bayer Leverkusen’s Karim Bellarabi a start on his debut in a new-look midfield.

Even with retirements and injuries, Loew could still call on six of the side, which started the World Cup final.

The hosts took the lead when Borussia Dortmund’s Lukasz Piszczek finished off a flowing attack and floated an inch-perfect pass over the German defense for Milik to put his header past Manuel Neuer.

And Mila settled the matter when he converted Lewandowski’s pass just before the final whistle to the delight of the hosts’ fans.

Earlier, minnows Gibraltar were undone by Keane’s quick-fire hat trick, a double from James McClean, an own goal from keeper Jordan Perez with the drubbing completed by Wes Hoolahan.

Keane has now scored 21 goals in European qualifiers, which moves him one ahead of former Turkey striker Hakan Sukur.

The Republic’s manager Martin O’Neill was more than satisfied with his team’s free-scoring effort.

In Glasgow, Scotland, who had shown plenty of promise in their their opening loss to the Germans, secured their first Euro 2016 qualifying win courtesy of a deflected Shaun Maloney strike in the 28th minute.

“That was the best hour or 65 minutes we have had as a football team since I have been here,” Scotland boss Strachan said.

“To make that many chances is a manager’s dream and I thought the players were fantastic.” Qualifying continues Sunday with England in Estonia and Spain in Luxembourg.

in Luxembourg.