News (engl.)

Germany got their World Cup qualifying campaign up and running with a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland in front of 43,169 fans in Cologne. Serge Gnabry gave Julian Nagelsmann’s side an early lead (7’), but Isaac Price levelled the scores before the break (34’). Second-half substitute Nadiem Amiri (69’) and Florian Wirtz (72’) then netted in quick succession to hand Germany a deserved first win of the group stage after suffering a 2-0 defeat in Slovakia last time out.

Early lead, surprise equaliser

Nagelsmann went with a back three of Antonio Rüdiger, Robin Koch and Waldemar Anton in front of keeper Oliver Baumann. Jamie Leweling and David Raum started out wide, with Pascal Groß and captain Joshua Kimmich anchoring the midfield. Florian Wirtz and Gnabry supported Nick Woltemade in attack.

The opening goal came early on: Woltemade won the ball in midfield and played in Gnabry, who lifted a clever finish over Bailey Peacock-Farrell to make it 1-0 (7’). Eight minutes later, Gnabry returned the favour with a cutback for Woltemade, who took a touch too many and was crowded out (15’).

Germany dominated possession and pinned Northern Ireland back, but struggled to find the final ball and were punished at the other end. From a corner, Price peeled away at the back post and fired a shot over Baumann to make it 1-1 (34’). Germany tried to regain momentum but repeatedly ran into a resolute Northern Irish backline.

Amiri makes an instant impact

The second half began in similar fashion, with the visitors defending doggedly. Leweling went close from range (58’) before Nagelsmann made his first changes – Amiri and Maximilian Beier replacing Woltemade and Gnabry (61’).

Amiri was involved straight away, forcing a save from the edge of the box (62’), while Groß’ follow-up was blocked. Anton then hit the crossbar with a header from a Beier free-kick (64’), before Leon Goretzka came on for Groß (66’). Germany’s attacks began to gather pace – Peacock-Farrell denied Wirtz one-on-one with a fine reflex stop (68’).

Then came the breakthrough: Raum played a ball into the box, and with Beier and the goalkeeper both missing it, Amiri was left to slot home from close range for his first senior international goal in his ninth appearance (69’). Just three minutes later, Wirtz made it 3-1, curling in a stunning free-kick from 20 metres out (72’).

Jonathan Tah replaced Rüdiger in the 82nd minute as Germany controlled the closing stages and pushed for a fourth. It didn’t come – but the three points were in the bag as Germany bounced back from their opening defeat in Bratislava.