Match preview for Germany v Northern Ireland
Germany’s surprise capitulation in Slovakia on Thursday night means the pressure has ramped up ahead of Northern Ireland’s visit tomorrow.
The 2-0 setback in Bratislava – their first-ever away defeat in a World Cup qualifier – has prompted plenty of criticism from pundits and former players.
Bastian Schweinsteiger claimed Germany had “lost their DNA” – the ability to win without playing well – and even boss Julian Nagelsmann questioned the team’s lack of passion.
Although it was the first game in the group, there is now little room for error for the four-time world champions if they want to qualify directly for next summer’s showpiece in the United States, Mexico and Canada and avoid the play-offs.
With just five games left to play in Group A, the visit of Northern Ireland is now must win.
And Nagelsmann is expecting an awful lot more from his team in Cologne.
He said: “I have confidence in the team. We need to approach the game like a Champions League semi-final. Otherwise we will play the play-offs in March. I have confidence in the team, but everyone has to realise that it’s not enough to play with the handbrake on.
“The players have spoken to each other. I believe that they feel what is needed now. The whole group must carry the energy. If we appear more energetically than today [against Slovakia], it will be a better game on Sunday.”
Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland are in a much better position after their 3-1 victory in Luxembourg and travel to Cologne in buoyant mood.
Realistically, they would have been targeting second spot at best and then chance their arm in the play-offs. But any kind of result tomorrow would thrust them into the conversation for group winners.
O’Neill is expecting a backlash from the home side, though.
“The message to the players when they met up last Sunday was, if we go home with three points it will be a good trip,” O’Neill said. “But if we go home with more than that, it’ll be a great trip. We have the chance to make it a great trip now.
“We know there’ll be a reaction from Germany to that result.
“I’m sure they’ll be under a lot of scrutiny and criticism in their own country. Maybe they are in a weak moment.
“I’ve played against Germany many times when they were world champions.
“I don’t think this team is quite at that level at this minute in time but they’ve got some excellent players and like all German teams, they’ll have a reaction to that result and we have to be ready for that.”
Team News for Germany v Northern Ireland
Nagelsmann hinted he would not make major changes but he could opt to add more bite to his team after they looked a little lightweight against Slovakia. That could mean recalls for Leon Goretzka and Niclas Fullkrug.
O’Neill reported no new injuries after the Luxembourg game and will again be able to call on Conor Bradley and Paddy McNair, who both got valuable minutes under their belts on Thursday.
Dan Ballard, Pierce Charles, Brodie Spencer and Paul Smyth didn’t make the squad due to injury.
Predicted line-ups for Germany v Northern Ireland
Germany: Baumann; Raum, Tah, Rudiger, Mittelstadt; Kimmich, Goretzka; Adeyemi, Wirtz, Gnabry; Fullkrug
Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell; Toal, McNair, Hume; Devenny, Bradley, McCann, S Charles, Galbraith; Price, Reid
How to watch Germany v Northern Ireland: TV and online streams
Germany versus Northern Ireland kicks-off at 7.45pm UK time tomorrow night. It can be watched on BBC Two and BBC One Northern Ireland.
You can stream it via the iPlayer.
Stats for Germany v Northern Ireland
- Germany have not won since beating Italy in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final in March
- Germany have won their last nine meetings with Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland’s victory in Luxembourg was their first competitive away win since March 2023
- Northern Ireland have lost just four of their last 16 games
