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21 hours ago
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Anybody seeking confirmation that Florian Wirtz was worthy of a £116m transfer fee would not have found it in Belfast. Instead, it was Nick Woltemade who, courtesy of his maiden goal for his country, endorsed his status as Germany’s man of the moment. It would not be a World Cup without Germany and it will not be a World Cup without Germany. They have edged closer to the 2026 staging.
Julian Nagelsmann will enjoy more comfortable evenings on the touchline. For all their technical superiority, Germany failed to properly punish a Northern Ireland team who showed wonderful tenacity and grew in belief as the clock ticked down.
Wirtz played on the fringes of the game, which will only intensify chatter about when he will fully justify Liverpool’s faith. The reaction of the Northern Ireland support at full-time demonstrated they have plenty of that very thing. Germany had been made to sweat by the team who refused to grant them an inch.
The occasion of Michael O’Neill’s 99th match in charge of Northern Ireland had witnessed one of the team’s finest performances in the manager’s two spells. Slovakia were vanquished in Belfast on Friday, raising hopes that Northern Ireland may not need the back door playoff route likely to be afforded them after Nations League progress.
O’Neill was hailed before kick-off here in making his century. The raucous atmosphere was unaffected by the absence of Conor Bradley, who was exceptional in the Slovakia win but banned for the follow-up after collecting a yellow card.
Nagelsmann had ruffled feathers by labelling Northern Ireland unattractive long-ball merchants after the sides met in Cologne. The ex-Bayern Munich coach sort of apologised for his remarks on the eve of this fixture by pointing out Northern Ireland are a very good long-ball team. Nagelsmann insisted he meant no offence.
It felt poetic, then, that Northern Ireland had the ball in the net after a punt from their own half after 14 minutes. The problem was, Paddy McNair had been offside before the stramash that preceded Daniel Ballard firing beyond the stranded Oliver Baumann. For O’Neill, it was almost another beautifully ugly moment. Germany had been served their warning.
Wirtz had started the match on the right side of Germany’s attack, duly swapping flanks with Karim Adeyemi. Woltemade played centrally.
Germany had been building momentum before the blissfully simple moment that opened Woltemade’s international account. From David Raum’s inswinging corner, Woltemade found space in an otherwise congested six-yard box to head past Bailey Peacock-Farrell. O’Neill had cause to be furious at the lack of pressure placed on the gangly striker. Woltemade will remember the time, place and continuation of a rapid rise.
For all Germany’s dominance, Northern Ireland should have restored parity before the interval. Jamie Reid instead fired wildly over the bar after Ethan Galbraith’s trickery. Ali McCann’s half-volley from distance flew only narrowly beyond the upright. Germany passed up an opportunity of their own, Jonathan Tah clumsy with his pass as the unmarked Leon Goretzka waited.
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Galbraith’s booking in first-half stoppage-time means he will miss the trip to Slovakia next month, another big suspension blow for Northern Ireland.
Adeyemi should have settled matters within two minutes of the restart. The Borussia Dortmund man was sent clean through on goal by Wirtz after the hosts botched a free-kick, but sent his shot beyond the right-hand post. It was an extraordinary miss by one so talented. The tiny pocket of German fans had already been mid-celebration when the ball left Adeyemi’s left boot.
Wirtz claimed in vain for a penalty after tumbling theatrically under a Shea Charles challenge. Germany had no requirement to deploy dark arts. They were understandably dominant against a team who replaced Reid, of Stevenage, with Exeter’s Josh Magennis.
It was endearing, then, to see brief moments of panic when Northern Ireland flung balls into the visiting penalty area. Galbraith further raised home hope on the hour with a low drive that Baumann scrambled across his goal to save.
Serge Gnabry, who like Wirtz had been peripheral, stung the palms of Peacock-Farrell with 20 minutes to play. Germany needed the leeway of a second goal that had not been close enough in coming when placed in the context of their ball retention. The substitute Callum Marshall almost punished that with an effort on the turn that Baumann held at the second attempt.
