Nick Woltemade scored twice as Germany overcame an unconvincing efficiency in opposition to Luxembourg to shut in on automated qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Newcastle striker Woltemade prodded in Leroy Sane’s cross within the forty ninth minute and completed from Ridle Baku’s cross as a part of a counter-attack 20 minutes later, guaranteeing Die Mannschaft will advance to the finals in the event that they keep away from defeat at house to Slovakia on Monday.
Woltemade, 23, has scored in successive internationals, having netted the one aim away to Northern Eire in qualifying on October 13.
Luxembourg vs Germany: Woltemade targets give reduction
Luxembourg are but to take a degree within the marketing campaign however the aspect ranked 87 locations beneath Germany on the earth may need scored greater than as soon as.
After Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz’s early shot was turned behind by house goalkeeper Anthony Moris, Danel Sinani – a winger within the Bundesliga for St Pauli – spurned a good chance in entrance of aim to offer the minnows a shock lead.
Teammate Aiman Dardari despatched a shot simply huge and Sinani’s strike was pushed behind by Oliver Baumann, who additionally tipped a Sinani cross over the crossbar as a part of an unsure first half for Germany.
Julian Nagelsmann’s gamers now face one other doubtlessly nervy evening when Slovakia, who’re behind the group leaders on aim distinction, go to Leipzig.
2026 World Cup playoffs dates
The highest workforce from every of the 12 European Qualifier teams proceeds mechanically to the finals, which will likely be expanded to 48 groups.
The 12 runners-up in every group will be part of 4 Nations League groups within the play-offs, which will likely be drawn from pots based mostly on groups’ information through the marketing campaign and happen on March 26 and 31 2026.
The video games will comprise single-leg semi-finals and finals, with the draw for the World Cup finals happening in December 2025. The event runs from June 11 till July 19 2026.
Luxembourg lineup vs Germany
Luxembourg centre-back Enes Mahmutovic had an stomach harm however left-back Dirk Carlson returned from suspension, having been dismissed after 20 minutes within the first fixture between the groups.
Attacking midfielder Yvandro Borges was not signed off as match by his Dutch membership, Heracles Amelo, and left-back Mica Pinto and midfielder Vincent Thill had been injured.
Adulai Djabi Embalo, a 20-year-old ahead for Italian second-tier aspect Virtus Entella, has been referred to as up for the primary time after representing his nation at under-21 stage.
Luxembourg beginning XI: Anthony Moris, Seid Korac, Florian Bohnert, Aiman Dardari, Christopher Martins, Danel Sinani, Dirk Carlson, Olivier Thill, Leandro Barreiro, Laurent Jans, Mathias Olesen, Tiago Pereira
Luxembourg substitutes: Lucas Fox, Adulai Djabi Embalo, Alessio Curci, Tomas Moreira, Kenan Avdusinovic, Edvin Muratovic, Eric Veiga, Vahid Selimovic, Eldin Dzogovic, Sebastien Thill, Marvin Martins
Germany lineup vs Luxembourg
Germany suffered a significant blow on the eve of the sport with Joshua Kimmich struggling an ankle harm in coaching however the captain was on the bench.
Germany beginning XI: Oliver Baumann, Waldemar Anton, Jonathan Tah, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Leon Goretzka, Nick Woltemade, Florian Wirtz, Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, David Raum, Ridle Baku
Germany substitutes: Alexander Nubel, Finn Dahmen, Malick Thiaw, Joshua Kimmich, Jamie Leweling, Assan Ouedraogo, Jonathan Burkardt, Felix Nmecha, Stated El Mala, Nico Schlotterbeck, Kevin Schade, Nathaniel Brown
Luxembourg squad vs Germany, Northern Eire
Goalkeepers: Lucas Fox (Bocholt), Anthony Moris (Al-Khaleej), Tiago Pereira (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Defenders: Florian Bohnert (Bastia), Dirk Carlson (St. Polten), Eldin Dzogovic (Magdeburg). Laurent Jans (Beveren), Seid Korac (Venezia), Marvin Martins (Winterthur), Vahid Selimovic (Hermannstadt), Eric Veiga (Flamurtari)
Midfielders: Leandro Barreiro, Tomas Cruz (each Benfica), Aiman Dardari (Augsburg), Christopher Martins (Spartak Moscou), Mirza Mustafic (Bali United), Mathias Olesen (Greuther Furth), Olivier Thill (IMT Belgrade), Sebastien Thill (Stal Rzeszow)
Forwards: Kenan Avdusinovic (Progres Niederkorn), Alessio Curci (Neftchi), Adulai Djabi Embalo (Virtus Entella), Edvin Muratovic (Odra Opole), Danel Sinani (St Pauli)
Germany squad vs Luxembourg, Slovakia
Goalkeepers: Noah Atubolu (Freiburg), Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Alexander Nuebel (Stuttgart)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck (each Dortmund), Ridle Baku (Leipzig), Nathaniel Brown (Frankfurt), David Raum (Leipzig), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle)
Midfielders: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic (all Bayern), Felix Nmecha (Dortmund)
Forwards: Karim Adeyemi (Dortmund), Jonathan Burkardt (Frankfurt), Stated El Mala (Koln), Serge Gnabry (Bayern), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Kevin Schade (Brentford), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle)
September 4: Slovakia 2-0 Germany
September 7: Germany 3-1 Northern Ireland
October 10: Germany 4-0 Luxembourg
October 13: Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany
November 14: Luxembourg vs Germany (19:45 GMT)
November 17: Germany vs Slovakia (19:45 GMT)
Germany World Cup 2026 qualifying path
The highest workforce from every of the 12 European Qualifier teams proceeds mechanically to the finals, which will likely be expanded to 48 groups.
The 12 runners-up in every group will be part of 4 Nations League groups within the play-offs, which will likely be drawn from pots based mostly on groups’ information through the marketing campaign. The video games will comprise single-leg semi-finals and finals.
The draw for the World Cup finals will happen in December 2025. The event runs from June 11 till July 19 2026.
