Germany – Slovakia 0: 2 (0: 1)
The German national soccer team lost their first game in the qualification phase for the 2026 World Cup. The team of national coach Julian Nagelsmann lost 0-2 (0: 1) against the Slovakia And for the first time, it lost an away game in a World Cup qualification for the first time. Dávid Hancko (42nd) and David Strelec (55th) met for the Slovaks in front of around 20,000 fans in the Bratislava nation stadium.
The dominance that Nagelsmann had requested in advance did not put the German team onto the pitch. The Slovak’s attacks caused problems for the team. Oliver Baumann once again represented Marc-André Ter Stegen in the goal and almost narrowly prevented them in the first half. Nevertheless, Hancko scored for Slovakia for the “well-deserved leadership” before the break, as ARD expert Bastian Schweinsteiger said.
Nagelsmann reacted during the half -time break and brought David Raum to the square for Namdi Collins. After a goal attempt by Leon Goretzka (48th), hardly anything improved in German game. Strelec met for the 0: 2. Despite the substitutes of Nadiem Amiri and Karim Adeyemi, the final phase remained hopeless, neither Kimmich nor Goretzka met for Germany. For the national team, the game was the third defeat in a row.
Nagelsmann announces “relentless processing”
Nagelsmann announced a “relentless processing”. “I don’t dismantle anything here now and anyone on TV, I do that internally, we have enough to discuss,” said the national coach. “In emotionality, the opponent was for miles from the first to the last minute. That is a fact. On top of that, it is frightened that such an opponent with more emotionality also brings significantly more quality to the square,” he said at ARD.
DFB sports director Rudi Völler was shocked. “It wasn’t just disappointing, it was a lifeless idea,” said the 1990 world champion in the ARD.
“We all have to put ourselves on our own nose. It was surprising for all of us that the game ran like that,” said Jonathan Tah disappointed at the ARD microphone. He spoke of a “deserved” defeat. “We can’t deny that. It was a weak game from us. We have to work up and be honest with us,” he said.
The second qualification game of the Germans is on Sunday (8:45 p.m./RTL) in Cologne against Northern Ireland. Luxembourg is waiting as the third opponent in Group A.
