Germany narrowly secured a crucial victory against Luxembourg in their World Cup qualifying match, keeping their hopes alive for the upcoming tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The team will face Slovakia in an essential final group match on November 17, 2025, where a draw will suffice for qualification, thanks to their favorable goal difference despite losing the previous encounter 0-2.
In front of 9,500 fans in Luxembourg, the German squad appeared to struggle significantly, with Nick Woltemade emerging as the hero, scoring both goals in the 49th and 69th minutes. Despite these goals, the match raised concerns among German fans due to Luxembourg’s dominant performance for much of the game, which they failed to convert into goals, mostly due to missed chances and crucial defensive mistakes from the Germans.
Throughout the first half, Luxembourg showed tenacity and enthusiasm, pressing Germany aggressively and disrupting their build-up play effectively. The German side, managed by Julian Nagelsmann, struggled to maintain possession and communication on the field, leading to a high number of errors and wasted opportunities.
The early threats came from Germany, with Florian Wirtz missing an opportunity in the 8th minute against Luxembourg’s goalkeeper Anthony Moris, but it was Luxembourg that looked more dangerous as Danel Sinani forced two saves from Oliver Baumann, and Aiman Dardari came close to scoring, hitting the right post.
Germany appeared disjointed, with captain Jonathan Tah, filling in for the injured Joshua Kimmich, almost conceding an own goal after a disastrous back pass. Surprisingly, Nagelsmann made no substitutions at halftime, keeping the same lineup despite their poor performance.
Woltemade’s crucial breakthrough came after an impressive assist from Leroy Sané, capitalizing on a defensive error from Luxembourg’s captain Laurent Jans. The goal provided a slight cushion, but it did not settle the German side, as Luxembourg continued to threaten with near misses, including a clear scoring chance that Christopher Martins squandered from close range.
The match effectively concluded when Woltemade scored his second goal following a quick counterattack, securing the victory for Germany. As Luxembourg’s frustration mounted, they could not manage another scoring opportunity, allowing Germany to hold on to the win.
This match serves as a wake-up call for Germany, who must address their performance issues before their decisive clash against Slovakia. Despite the victory, the team’s overall play raises significant questions ahead of the World Cup, yet the ability to secure a win under pressure could be seen as a positive step forward.