Key Takeaways:
- Last week, Germany suffered a 2-0 defeat against Slovakia in World Cup qualifying
- On Sunday, Germany managed a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland, with two late goals breaking a 1-1 deadlock
- Toni Kroos stated that elimination is unrealistic due to Germany’s favourable group draw, but expressed concern about the team’s self-confidence
Troubles Persist in Germany’s World Cup Qualification Journey
Germany’s path to World Cup qualification encountered further resistance last week when Julian Nagelsmann’s side endured a 2-0 loss away to Slovakia. The shock result provoked a strong backlash from supporters, pundits, and former players, as debates intensified about the national team’s psychological resilience. Although a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland on Sunday temporarily eased the tension, the performance itself was less than authoritative. The score remained level at 1-1 until Nadiem Amiri found the net in the 69th minute and Florian Wirtz dispatched a free-kick just three minutes later to put Germany ahead.
FT: Germany 3-1 Northern Ireland.
IMPORTANT VICTORY FOR GERMANY! 🇩🇪🌟 pic.twitter.com/dsXP8wyObI
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) September 7, 2025
Group Standing and Analytical Perspective
Germany entered their qualification group as clear favourites, drawn alongside Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg. However, after these recent results, they find themselves trailing Slovakia by three points and facing criticism over their form. While mathematically possible, failure to secure a top-two position would lead to Germany missing out on next year’s global tournament – a prospect considered highly improbable by many, including former midfield stalwart Toni Kroos. The ex-international has pointed to recurring issues relating to confidence rather than mentality as central to their struggles.
| Match | Result | Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| Slovakia vs Germany | 2-0 | Germany defeats stirs doubts about team morale |
| Germany vs Northern Ireland | 3-1 | Goals: Amiri (69′), Wirtz (72′) secure win after 1-1 deadlock |
Kroos Identifies Root Causes for Recent Performance Issues
During an appearance on his podcast Einfach mal Luppen, Toni Kroos shared his frank assessment of the current German squad, insisting: “We’re very fortunate that we’ve been assigned a group where it’s impossible to be eliminated,” before expanding on the real challenges facing the team.
As Kroos explained, “I don’t think we’re lacking mentality that much. I think it’s more a question of self-confidence and quality. You get the feeling there’s a greater fear of making mistakes. That has nothing to do with a lack of mentality. It came across as if they weren’t exactly brimming with confidence. Therefore, the image to the outside world is that they don’t want to play. I would still never say that no one wants to play these games.”
He continued: “It will always be like this: Slovakia will always be more motivated than Germany in a match against each other. That’s simply because the team with less quality knows: We need more than our opponents. The difference is that in the past, Germany always gave enough – coupled with their quality – to make it enough.”
Upcoming Fixtures and the Road Ahead
The 2014 World Cup champions are scheduled to resume their qualifying campaign in October with fixtures against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland. With qualification not considered under threat, attention now turns to Julian Nagelsmann’s ability to rebuild confidence and strengthen his side’s form in anticipation of the 2026 tournament.
