Germany up and running in FIFA World Cup qualifying with win against Northern Ireland

Stunned by Thursday's reverse in Slovakia, Germany knew no more slip-ups could be afforded in Group A, and Julian Nagelsmann's side were able to overcome a fright against Northern Ireland, before winning in style in Cologne.

Germany 3-1 Northern Ireland
Goals: 1-0 Gnabry 7’ (assist: Woltemade), 1-1 Price 34’ (assist: Devenny), 2-1 Amiri 69’ (assist: Raum), 3-1 Wirtz 72’

Showing five changes to his starting XI compared to the side that began last Thursday’s 2-0 reverse in Bratislava, Nagelsmann enjoyed the desired response in the opening stages at the RheinEnergieStadion on Sunday.

The last time these teams met, Germany ran out 6-1 winners in Frankfurt, with Serge Gnabry netting a hat-trick. The Bayern Munich man was at it again here, sending a Nick Woltemade cut-back into the corner for the opening goal.

Serge Gnabry made no mistake to open the scoring for Germany after being played through by Nick Woltemade inside seven minutes. - Lars Baron

While Gnabry continued to shine as the half progressed, his teammates began to show signs of a side who were winless in their last four games.

The visitors – previously 3-1 winners against Luxembourg - took advantage, and were level in the 34th minute when Isaac Price met Justin Devenny’s corner kick with a volley at the far post.  

Their standing in Group A looking precarious as the second half got underway, the four-time World champions raised their game.

VfB Stuttgart’s Jamie Leweling sent a powerful effort narrowly off target before visiting goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell saved from David Raum and Pascal Groß in quick succession.

Florian Wirtz's genius helped put daylight between the teams. - Dean Mouhtaropoulos

The home fans sensed their team's moment was coming, and it arrived when substitute Nadiem Amiri slid into an empty net for his first international goal in what was his ninth senior appearance.

The relief among the majority inside the ground was then palpable as Florian Wirtz added another with an eye-catching free kick to get Germany up and running in Group A.  

Nagelsmann’s side next host Luxembourg in Sinsheim on 10 October, before travelling to face Northern Ireland in Belfast three days later.

Nadiem Amiri celebrated his first senior international goal. - IMAGO/osnapix / Marcus Hirnschal

• With 23 international goals, Gnabry is the most prolific player currently in the Germany squad.
• Germany posted their first win in five matches.
• While Germany lost their first away qualifier against Slovakia, they have still succumbed just three times in 53 equivalent home matches.
• Germany have never failed to qualify for a World Cup. They did not enter the inaugural 1930 edition, while they were banned from entering in 1950.

Teams

Germany: Baumann - Anton, Rüdiger (Tah 82'), Koch, Raum - Kimmich (c), Groß (Goretzka 66') - Gnabry (Beier 61'), Wirtz, Leweling - Woltemade (Amiri 61')
Unused subs: Nübel, Dahmen (GK), Collins, Adeyemi, Stiller, Mittelstädt, Nebel, Andrich
Out: Füllkrug (muscular), Havertz (knee), Kleindienst (knee), Musiala (leg), Schlotterbeck (knee), Ter Stegen (back)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell - Hume (c), McNair, Toal (McConville 88') - Bradley, Galbraith (Marshall 76'), Charles, McCann (Saville 76'), Devenny - Price (McDonnell 88'), Reid (Charles 70')
Unused subs: Southwood, McMullan, Donley, Johnson, Devlin, Hale, Taylor
Out: -
Coach: Michael O'Neill

As it happened ...

3 - 1

(1 - 1)

Germany

FINAL

N. Ireland

FIFA World Cup
Qualifying, Group A Qualifying, Group A RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne

Full-time: Germany 3-1 Northern Ireland

So, Germany's second half performance is enough to see them put an end to their three-game losing streak. The introduction of Amiri and Beier early in the half changed the complexion of the game, with both being involved in Germany's second, which Amiri slotted away. Minutes later, Wirtz' spectacular free-kick established a commanding two-goal lead which the hosts managed to see out comfortably in the end to claim the win.

© IMAGO/Herbertz / Nico Herbertz

Full-time

90'

+ 4

Narrowly wide

Leweling cuts in off the right flank, pulls out a couple of stepovers, and lets fly with his left foot. It's a powerful low effort which is deflected behind for a corner, but Germany don't manage to capitalise on the set-piece.

90'

+ 1

Stoppage time

Four additional minutes are indicated.

90'

Saville sees yellow

The midfielder goes into the book for pulling Wirtz' shirt to prevent the goalscorer from launching a counter-attack.

90'

Yellow card

George Saville

The goalscorer departs

Price put the travelling Northern Ireland fans in dreamland after levelling the scores in the first half. He has since been substituted off for McDonnell.

© IMAGO/©INPHO/William Cherry

87'

Further changes

It's another double substitution for the visitors, who have some tired legs out there at the moment.

87'

Substitution

Ruairi McConville

Eoin Toal

87'

Substitution

Jamie McDonnell

Isaac Price

86'

Superb from Leweling

The Stuttgart winger has come alive in the second half here. He touches it round his marker down the right flank and storms into the box before trying to dig out a cross, but Hume is there to intercept.

Precision from Wirtz

The former Leverkusen man's free-kick was placed to perfection to make it 3-1 to Germany.

© Dean Mouhtaropoulos

83'

Shoring up the defence

Tah comes on for Rüdiger as Germany look to see this one out.

82'

Substitution

Jonathan Tah

Antonio Rüdiger

81'

Leweling wriggles free

The winger beats his man down the right before firing a cross in, but Hume heads it away.

Amiri celebrates

The No.10 scored within 10 minutes of coming on to make it 2-1 and restore Germany's lead.

© Stuart Franklin

77'

O'Neill goes to the bench

The Northern Ireland manager makes a double substitution to introduce Marshall and Saville for Galbraith and McCann as his side look for a way back into the game.

76'

Substitution

Callum Marshall

Ethan Galbraith

76'

Substitution

George Saville

Alistair McCann

73'

Wirtz makes it 3-1!

What a free-kick from the Liverpool man! McCann gives away a foul right on the edge of the box for Northern Ireland. Wirtz steps up, and smashes it past Peacock-Farrell into the top left corner.

72'

Florian Wirtz

GOAL!

3:1

70'

Substitution

Dion Charles

Jamie Reid

69'

Amiri restores the advantage!

He's only been on the pitch for less than 10 minutes, but the Mainz man makes it 2-1! A long ball from Raum on the left isn't dealt with by Toal or Peacock-Farrell and falls to Amiri at the far post, who needs only to tap it home into an empty net.

69'

Nadiem Amiri

GOAL!

2:1

68'

How did that stay out?!

What a save from Peacock-Farrell to keep the scores level at 1-1! Kimmich curls a teasing ball in behind the backline. Wirtz ghosts in behind and gets a toe on it, but the Northern Ireland goalkeeper makes a superb reaction save to deny him.

67'

Fantastic challenge

A long ball over the top finds Beier in behind. Bradley is the only man back, but puts in a heroic challenge to stop the German forward from being through on goal.

66'

Substitution

Leon Goretzka

Pascal Groß

64'

Another free-kick

Raum takes the set-piece from the opposite side, after Bradley brings down Groß and is shown a yellow card. The wing-back finds Anton at the far post, whose header is powerful but flies just over the bar.

63'

Yellow card

Connor Bradley

63'

Great save!

Three German players stand over the free-kick: Raum, Kimmich and Wirtz. Raum makes a dummy run before being found by Wirtz at the edge of the box. The Leipzig man unleashes a shot, forcing a fantastic stop out of Peacock-Farrell to deny him.

62'

Devenny booked

The left wing-back sees yellow for impeding the run of Amiri down the flank.

62'

Yellow card

Justin Devenny

62'

Double change

Nagelsmann is the first of the managers to go to the bench, making a double substitution as he brings on Amiri and Beier for Gnabry and Woltemade.

61'

Substitution

Nadiem Amiri

Serge Gnabry

61'

Substitution

Maximilian Beier

Nick Woltemade

58'

Leweling shoots

The Stuttgart winger takes matters into his own hands, turning his man down the right flank before driving at the visitors' defence and letting fly with his left foot from distance. It's very well-struck, but his powerful effort flies just wide of the target.

Another angle of the equaliser

Price's goal for the visitors to make it 1-1 in the first half has yet to be met with a response from Germany.

© Stuart Franklin

53'

Galbraith booked

The Northern Irishman picks up a yellow card for a late challenge on Raum.

53'

Yellow card

Ethan Galbraith

52'

Devenny swings it in

From the right, the left wing-back curls a cross towards the far post, but Baumann just manages to claw the ball to safety.

50'

Overhit

A promising-looking Germany attack culminates in Raum receiving the ball high up the pitch. The Leipzig captain tries a first-time cross on the half-volley, but it's way overhit and goes out for a Northern Ireland throw-in.

48'

Leweling looks for Woltemade

The winger cuts the ball back onto his left foot down the right for Germany before crossing in towards Woltemade. However, the 6'6'' striker can't get his head to it and it goes behind for a goal-kick.

46'

Back underway!

The ball is rolling again here in Cologne. Both sides emerge after half-time unchanged.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Germany 1-1 Northern Ireland

After flying out of the gates and to an early lead thanks to Gnabry's clinical chipped finish, Germany allowed Northern Ireland to grow into the game and to grow in confidence. Despite the early deficit, the visitors have defended well and were deserving of their equaliser, which they found through Price. Since the equaliser, Northern Ireland have looked confident, but Germany will be aware that they can still hurt them in behind, as they have looked to do so multiple times inside the first 45 minutes.

© IMAGO/©INPHO/William Cherry

Half-time

45'

+ 2

Offside

A ball in behind finds the run of Raum, who smashes the ball into the top corner past Peacock-Farrell, but it won't stand - the assistant referee had his flag raised correctly for offside.

45'

+ 1

Stoppage time

Three additional minutes are indicated.

44'

Visitors get it clear

Leweling tries to slip Raum through to the byline down the left. It deflects off Groß but finds its way through to the full-back, who plays a cross into the middle. Peacock-Farrell manages to punch it clear, though it wasn't a particularly confident-looking clearance.

Price's leveller

The Northern Irish forward's goal takes his record to eight goals and an assist in his last nine international appearances, whilst silencing the home crowd here to make it 1-1.

© Christian Kaspar-Bartke

41'

Baumann punches it

A free-kick from near the halfway line causes problems in the box for Germany. Baumann, not wanting to take any chances, opts to punch Toal's header, before his defenders finish the job.

39'

Pressing high

Northern Ireland have their tails up here and are putting Germany's defence under a lot of pressure high up the pitch. Nagelsmann side are managing to weather this storm for now, though.

34'

Price with the leveller!

It has to be said that that's been coming. From the corner, Devenny plays an inswinger finding Price at the far post, whose run went untracked. The forward meets the ball on the volley, smashing it past Baumann from close range to make it 1-1, stunning the home crowd in the process.

34'

Isaac Price

GOAL!

1:1

32'

Promising from Price

The forward dispossesses Rüdiger before immediately looking to put a cross into the box. Germany deal with it, but it falls right back to him, and Northern Ireland work it to Bradley, whose subsequent cross is blocked behind for a corner.

31'

Wide by McNair

Devenny takes another corner from the left and this time, he finds McNair at the far post, who had timed his run perfectly to get his head on it. However, the defender's effort is off target and doesn't test Baumann in goal.

30'

First corner for the visitors

Northern Ireland are pressing forward more and earn themselves a corner after Devenny's cross is blocked behind by Rüdiger. Devenny takes it, playing an outswinger in, but Germany head it behind for another corner.

27'

First booking

Rüdiger is the first player to see yellow this game, for his challenge on Price, which prevented the forward from launching a Northern Ireland counter-attack. The visitors don't manage to create anything from the subsequent set-piece, though.

26'

Yellow card

Antonio Rüdiger

24'

In by Leweling

Captain Kimmich finds Leweling in behind down the right flank. The Stuttgart winger looks to find Woltemade with a low cross, but the recovering McCann gets back to clear the danger for Northern Ireland.

Bright start

Gnabry has been Germany's standout performer so far this half; not just for his goal, but his all-round performance.

© Dean Mouhtaropoulos

22'

Back underway

Bradley is set to continue and Leweling resumes play with a throw-in.

21'

Stoppage

There's a halt to the proceedings as Northern Ireland full-back Bradley receives treatment following a collision with Koch.

18'

Scramble in the box

Rüdiger plays a dangerous ball in from the left finding Gnabry at the far post. The goalscorer heads back across goal towards Woltemade, who brings the ball down but can't sort his feet out for the shot in time before McNair flies in with a tackle to concede a corner. Wirtz plays it in, but the visitors clear.

16'

Gnabry in behind again

The Bayern winger breaks between the lines down the right for Germany before trying to pick out Woltemade in the middle. However, Mcnair puts in a fantastic last-ditch tackle to prevent the forward from getting a shot away.

Gnabry's clinical opener

The No.20 made no mistake with the first chance he had through on goal to make it 1-0 to the hosts.

© Lars Baron

12'

Another free-kick

Once again, it's Charles who's stood over it, but the delivery is a near carbon copy of the previous set-piece, and Woltemade heads it clear from the far post.

9'

In from Charles

Following a foul from Raum on Bradley, Northern Ireland are awarded a free-kick down the right-hand side. Charles floats a ball to the back post, but there's no one there for the visitors.

7'

Lightning-fast start from Gnabry!

The Bayern man has opened the scoring here inside 10 minutes for Germany. A long ball up from the back isn't dealt with properly by the Northern Ireland defence. Woltemade pounces on a loose ball at the back before slipping Gnabry in behind the backline. The No.20 drives forwards before slotting it past Peacock-Farrell into the bottom left corner.

7'

Serge Gnabry

GOAL!

1:0

6'

Quickfire crosses

Woltemade leads a charge towards the Northern Ireland penalty area. He lays it off right to Gnabry, who tries to find him with a return cross. It comes back out to Rüdiger who first another cross in but Bradley heads it away.

2'

In behind

Rüdiger tries to find Gnabry with a long ball over the top, but it's overhit and Peacock-Farrell gathers it.

1'

And we're off!

It's the visitors from Northern Ireland who get the ball rolling here in Cologne.

Kick-off!

Commemorating Frank Mill

Before kick-off, the stadium honours the late former Germany striker Frank Mill, who was part of the 1990 World Cup winning squad with a marked period of applause.

Respects paid to Hummels

Before kick-off, the legendary World Cup-winning defender was presented with a special gift to mark his retirement from professional football.

© INA FASSBENDER

Northern Ireland team news

By contrast, Michael O'Neill names an unchanged starting line-up to his side which claimed a 3-1 victory over Luxembourg. Once again, he opts for the 3-5-2 formation.

More on that Germany side

This time out, Julian Nagelsmann fields a much-changed Germany side to the XI that lost in Slovakia. Mittelstädt, Collins, Goretzka, Stiller and Tah all drop to the bench and are replaced by Anton, Raum, Koch, Leweling, and Groß.

© IMAGO/Sebastian Räppold/Matthias Koch

Northern Ireland starting XI

Peacock-Farrell - Hume, McNair, Toal - Bradley (c), Galbraith, Charles, McCann, Devenney – Price, Reid

Northern Ireland subs

Hale, Charles, Devlin, Donley, Johnson, Marshall, McConville, McDonnell, Saville, McMullan, Southwood, Taylor

Germany starting XI

Baumann - Raum, Rüdiger, Koch, Anton - Kimmich (c), Groß - Gnabry, Wirtz, Leweling - Woltemade

Germany subs

Adeyemi, Amiri, Andrich, Beier, Collins, Dahmen, Goretzka, Mittelstädt, Nebel, Nübel, Stiller, Tah

O'Neill wary of Germany bounce-back

The Northern Ireland coach acknowledged the criticism Germany faced after defeat against Slovakia, saying: "I think sometimes when you play for your national team, criticism can be a little more personal than when you play for your club. That brings added pressure because everyone wants to do well for their national team and their families. I haven't read any of it, but the criticism Germany had... if they need extra motivation they will get it from that."

© Omar Havana

"Back to basics"

For Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, Sunday's encounter against Northern Ireland represents a chance for his side to go back to the drawing board after Thursday's surprise loss in Bratislava: "It's about getting back to basics: showing passion, winning the second balls," the Hoffenheim custodian said. "First the fundamentals, then the playing elements: that's the order," Baumann continued.

© IMAGO/Herbertz / Nico Herbertz

O'Neill hopeful

Northern Ireland coach Michael O'Neill led his side to a 3-1, midweek win against Luxembourg in Group A and the 56-year-old said his players can take inspiration from a previous victory on German soil when they step out on the pitch in Cologne. "Northern Ireland have come here in the past and won against Germany," he said. "It's not impossible to come here and win. That’s the belief we will give to the players."

© IMAGO/Herbertz / Nico Herbertz

Inspire one another

Insisting that, "There won't be a completely different team," on Sunday compared to that which started against Slovakia, Nagelsmann added, "The important thing is that we play better than we did against Slovakia. Communication on the pitch is important; we have to fire each other up."

© IMAGO/Gladys Chai von der Laage

Nagelsmann speaks

Germany's coach has been sharing his thoughts after the opening defeat against Slovakia and the upcoming game against Northern Ireland. "I know what's being written; we played very poorly [in our last game], you have to accept that. Nevertheless, I won't change my entire playing style," the tactician explained.

© IMAGO/Herbertz / Nico Herbertz

3:08

Kimmich targets legend

Joshua Kimmich's next international appearance will take him to 103 Germany caps, level with Franz Beckenbauer in 12th place on the all-time appearance list for the four-time world champions.

3:53

Cologne experience 🙌

Sunday's qualifier is all set to take place in the atmospheric RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne! Take a trip inside the iconic venue with our video.

Beier called up

With Niclas Füllkrug carrying a calf complaint, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has decided to call Borussia Dortmund's Maxi Beier into the squad for Sunday's encounter against Northern Ireland. The 22-year-old already boasts four senior caps and last appeared for Germany in October 2024

© IMAGO/Anke Waelischmiller

Good Gnabry news

Serge Gnabry suffered a minor injury in Thursday's defeat, but was able to play on before his eventual substitution, and his recovery has been confirmed ahead of Sunday's encounter.

© Lars Baron

How things stand

Germany are bottom of Group A after the first round of matches, while Northern Ireland's 3-1 win in Luxembourg leaves them top for now. That can all change on Sunday, but only the top team in the group of four will qualify automatically for next summer's finals.

© IMAGO/Ben Majerus

Door open to new players?

It would not be a surprise to see Nagelsmann shuffle his pack after the 0-2 defeat to Slovakia and make plenty of changes to the starting line-up. It remains to be seen whether Frankfurt's Nnamdi Collins or Mainz's Paul Nebel (pictured) will feature after winning their first caps on Thursday, while Augsburg's Finn Dahmen was an unused substitute.

© IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images

2:39

Watch: The best of Gnabry in 24/25

No player in the current Germany squad has more international goals than the Bayern attacker's 22.

We've met before

Germany have won 13 out of 19 previous meetings with Northern Ireland, including the last time the two sides met in November 2019. Germany ran out 6-1 winners in a EURO 2020 qualifier in Frankfurt, with five of those goals coming from players in the current squad - Serge Gnabry smashing a hat-trick and Leon Goretzka hitting a brace.

© STUDIO FOTOGRAFICO BUZZI SRL via www.imago-images.de

Nagelsmann not happy

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann did not mince his words after the defeat in Slovakia. He demanded more emotion from his players, saying: "They brought more quality to the pitch than we did. Today, we were simply miles off it."

© IMAGO/Marc Schueler

Beaten in Bratislava

Germany will be eager to make amends after their World Cup qualifying campaign got off to a bad start with a 2-0 defeat to Slovakia on Thursday.

© IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images

Welcome along!

Thanks for joining us for all the build-up and coverage of Germany's World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland on Sunday in Cologne.