Germany go begin their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign with away match for Tehelne Pole, Bratislava, as dem face Slovakia on Thursday evening.
Julian Nagelsmann men and Francesco Calzona side dey inside Group A together with Northern Ireland and Luxembourg.
Match Preview
Germany dey prepare for their first international match since dem flop for UEFA Nations League wey dem host for June. Na 2-1 semi-final loss to champions Portugal and 2-0 third-place defeat to France end their campaign.
FIFA rank dem ninth for di world, but since Nagelsmann take over September 2023, Die Mannschaft don only win 12 from 23 games (draw 6, lose 5). Defensive problem na wetin di 38-year-old coach wan fix urgent.
Germany don only keep five clean sheets for their last 16 matches, and for 2025 alone, dem concede at least two goals for every four matches wey dem play. As four-time world champions, dem need correct dis if dem wan shine for global stage.
Even though Germany already secure Nations League playoff spot, dem still dey target top position for Group A wey go give dem automatic ticket to Canada/Mexico/USA 2026.
Die Mannschaft dey enter Thursday opener with seven straight wins for World Cup qualifiers. Dem don also win three of their last five meetings with Slovakia, including 4-1 victory for Bratislava back in October 2006.
Slovakia Form
Coach Francesco Calzona dey try change Slovakia fortune as dem dey inside four-match winless run since 2025 begin. Dem miss chance to promote from Nations League after Slovenia beat dem 1-0 on aggregate with late 95th-minute goal.
Since then, Slovakia drop to 52nd for FIFA ranking after two friendly losses for June – 4-1 to Greece and 1-0 to Israel.
As independent nation, Slovakia don only qualify once for World Cup – 2010 South Africa. But with dem being second-highest ranked for Group A (behind Germany), dem dey believe say qualification still possible ahead of Northern Ireland and Luxembourg.
History show say Slovakia fit still surprise. For their last five meetings with Germany, dem win two – 2-0 home win for 2005 and 3-1 away win for 2016 friendly.
Form Guide
Slovakia (all competitions): L W D W L L
Germany (all competitions): W D W D L L
Team News
Slovakia get plenty injury wahala. Lukas Haraslin don withdraw with groin injury, Wolfsburg’s Denis Vavro still dey recover from adductor surgery, while Samuel Kozlovsky and Dominik Javorcek dey sidelined. Ivan Schranz and Laszlo Benes dey doubtful with stomach issues.
Calzona likely go return to 4-3-3 formation. Veteran free agent Peter Pekarik fit earn him 136th cap for right-back. Napoli’s Stanislav Lobotka, Bochum’s Matus Bero and Stoke’s Robert Bozenik fit all start.
Germany sef dey miss plenty names: Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Sule, Benjamin Henrichs, Tim Kleindienst and Tom Bischof all injured. Nathaniel Brown, Max Rosenfelder and Nicolas Kuhn wey dey close to senior call-up, also dey out.
But good news be say Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nnamdi Collins and Mainz midfielder Paul Nebel dey set for debut after first call-up. Antonio Rudiger don return to squad and fit partner Jonathan Tah for defence.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s new big signing, still dey search for first goal contribution, but him fit start as number 10. Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade – wey score six goals in five matches for U21 Euros – dey push for starting shirt upfront ahead of Niclas Fullkrug.
Slovakia possible XI: Dubravka; Pekarik, Skriniar, Gyomber, Hancko; Duda, Lobotka, Bero; Schranz, Bozenik, Duris
Germany possible XI: Baumann; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Raum; Goretzka, Stiller; Adeyemi, Wirtz, Gnabry; Woltemade
Prediction
We dey expect goals for both ends since Slovakia and Germany defence no too solid recently. But Germany quality go still carry dem pass.
Our Pick: Slovakia 1-3 Germany
