Germany are not enjoying the best preparations for the defence of the World Cup after their winless run was extended by defeat in Austria on Saturday evening. Joachim Löw’s team have not won a game since October, drawing with England, France and Spain and losing to Brazil and now Austria since beating Azerbaijan.

Germany led early on through Mesut Özil’s strike but second-half goals from Martin Hinteregger and Alessandro Schöpf turned the match on its head and gave Austria, who will not be at the World Cup, a seventh successive victory.

The game at the Wörthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt, which was delayed by 100 minutes because of heavy rain, was the first of two friendlies for the defending world champions, who will also face Saudi Arabia at the BayArena before beginning their title defence against Mexico on 17 June in Moscow.

It was a chance for the fringe players in Löw’s 27-man squad to earn a spot in the final 23 and the Freiburg striker Nils Petersen was handed his debut. Meanwhile Manuel Neuer made his first start since September 2017 after recovering from a broken foot.

Despite concerns over injury, the pitch was not a factor. It looked like the match could be called off following torrential rain but the bulk of the water drained away.

Germany had no trouble adapting to the conditions and went ahead after 11 minutes. The Austria goalkeeper Jörg Siebenhandl kicked the ball straight to Özil, who returned it into the net with a delicate finish at the far post. Özil should have quickly made it two but shot straight at Siebenhandl. before Julian Brandt burst into the penalty area and poked an effort narrowly wide.

Austria started to find their feet around the half-hour mark and some patient buildup play created a chance for Peter Žulj but he shot straight at Neuer, who shortly afterwards made a superb save to push away a strike from Florian Grillitsch after he had tried to catch out the goalkeeper at his near post.

Germany survived until half-time but Austria kept up the pressure at the start of the second half and deservedly drew level after 53 minutes. Hinteregger sprinted to meet a cross at the far post and showed superb technique to send his volley back across goal and into the net.

Žulj had another effort roll inches past the post before Schöpf beat Neuer for the second time after 69 minutes, converting a cutback from Stefan Lainer from close range. Germany toiled to create anything of note in reply and while their starting XI against Mexico will look a lot different to the team on Saturday, their inability to pose an attacking threat will be a worry to Löw.

The Germany manager said: “We played decent football at times in the first half but then we just stopped clicking. We allowed Austria to put in crosses and get shots away. There’s a lot to digest.”

Earlier in Stockholm, Isaac Kiese-Thelin spooned a late shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy as his Sweden side were held to a goalless draw by Denmark in their pre-World Cup friendly at the Friends Arena. On a balmy evening, both sides took the opportunity to ease some players back into the fold in a feisty friendly featuring plenty of direct football and meaty challenges.

With Christian Eriksen at home in Denmark with his partner as they await the birth of their first child, Michael Krohn-Dehli was given the role of playmaker, but he was shackled by the Swedish defence. Emil Forsberg’s best effort came late in the game with a mazy dribble to tee up Kiese-Thelin, but his first-time shot flew harmlessly over the crossbar.

Denmark midfielder William Kvist has been out of favour recently at FC Copenhagen but he quickly slotted into a defensive role alongside Thomas Delaney to cancel out the creative threat of Forsberg. Sweden’s first-choice goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who also plays for FC Copenhagen, showed no ill-effects from the broken collar bone he sustained in February, getting down smartly on the half-hour mark to save a stinging shot from Pione Sisto.

Operating from the wings, Pione Sisto and Yussuf Poulsen showed glimpses of the electric pace that Denmark can call on in Russia when they kick off their World Cup Group C campaign against Peru at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk on 16 June. Two days later Sweden face South Korea in their Group F opener in Nizhny Novgorod.

Belgium and Portugal drew 0-0 in an evenly balanced friendly. Each side showed attacking intent, while the Belgium defender Vincent Kompany left the field injured, giving the hosts cause for concern. The central defender hurt himself when he lunged for the ball and almost immediately left the pitch.

Both sides had promising phases, Portugal’s Bernardo Silva in particular creating chances at the end of the first half. Belgium’s best chance fell to Jan Vertonghen, earning his 100th cap, as he forced the goalkeeper Beto into an acrobatic save midway through the second period.

The Republic of Ireland came from behind to beat the USA 2-1 in Dublin in John O’Shea’s last international match. Bobby Wood put the visitors ahead before the Shamrock Rovers striker Graham Burke – the first League of Ireland player to make the starting XI since Joe Gamble in 2007 – equalised. Alan Judge then hit the winner in the 90th minute to give O’Shea the perfect send-off.

This week’s World Cup warmups

TODAY Brazil v Croatia (3pm) LFCTV; Costa Rica v Northern Ireland (7pm); Mexico v Scotland (1pm) BBC One Scotland; Spain v Switzerland (8pm) Sky Sports

TOMORROW Italy v Netherlands (7.45pm)

TUESDAY Russia v Turkey (5pm)

WEDNESDAY Belgium v Egypt (7.45pm); Nigeria v Czech Republic (2pm); Norway v Panama (6pm)

THURSDAY Portugal v Algeria (8.15pm)

FRIDAY Croatia v Senegal (3pm); Germany v Saudi Arabia (6.30pm) BT Sport 1

SATURDAY France v USA (8pm); Spain v Tunisia (3pm) FreeSports

SUNDAY Austria v Brazil (3pm) LFCTV

MONDAY Belgium v Costa Rica (7.45pm) MUTV