Bundesliga
Wirtz and Musiala star in Germany scoring spree
Jamal Musiala continued his scintillating form with an early goal, with Florian Wirtz and Tim Kleindienst bagging braces as a confident Germany rampaged to a clear win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Freiburg.
Germany 7-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Goals: 1-0 Musiala 2' (assist: Kimmich), 2-0 Kleindienst 23' (assist Andrich), 3-0 Havertz 37' (assist: Wirtz), 4-0 Wirtz 50', 5-0 Wirtz 57' (assist: Havertz), 6-0 Sané 66' (assist: Havertz), 7-0 Kleindienst 79' (assist: Rüdiger)
Despite the lingering fog in Freiburg, it was clear to see from the very start that Germany are a team that have increasingly found their groove under Julian Nagelsmann. The hosts attacked from the outset and promptly took the lead in the second minute as Joshua Kimmich floated a cross into the far post where in-form Bayern Munich attacking jewel Musiala dispatched a header straight past St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. Buoyed by the early opener, Germany continued to swarm forward with further goals looking a mere matter of time - until Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Kleindienst diverted Robert Andrich's shot from outside the area into the net for his first international goal on his third appearance. Kai Havertz then had a header turned onto the post in stunning fashion by Vasilj as Germany's complete dominance continued. The former Bayer Leverkusen playmaker then linked up with current Leverkusen attacking master Florian Wirtz to play a superb one-two before slotting in a third before the break.
There was no change in the flow of the play after the restart, with Germany tirelessly tearing forward once more. Wirtz swerved a delightful free-kick under the crossbar for Germany's fourth within minutes of the restart. The 21-year-old playmaker then completed a quickfire brace when a Havertz shot from a tight angle was parried into his path by Vasilj and he simply had to bundle the ball in at the far post. Leroy Sané had a great chance for a sixth saved within minutes of coming on, and fellow substitute Serge Gnabry chased the ball into the side netting when presented with an open goal. Sané made no mistake in taking down a chipped pass from Havertz superbly before slamming in a sixth via Vasilj's hands. Kleindienst slid to meet an Antonio Rüdiger cross and completed his brace by making it seven. Seemingly only Germany could stop themselves scoring by this stage, with Gnabry accidentally blocking a Pascal Groß effort bound for an empty net at the far post.
Watch: The best of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz
Match stats
- Musiala now has seven goals in his last six appearances for club and country.
- Kliendienst's first goals for Germany are his first at any international level after making ten appearances for Germany U20 in 2014 and 2015.
- Wirtz now has four goals and three assists in his last six Germany appearances.
- All of Germany's last four appearances in Freiburg have ended in 7-0 wins.
- Germany became the first team to score seven goals in the UEFA Nations League.
- Nagelsmann’s Germany are unbeaten after the standard 90 minutes of their past 14 matches (excluding an extra-time defeat against Spain at Euro 2024).
Teams
Germany: Baumann - Kimmich (c) (Koch 73'), Rüdiger, Tah, Mittelstädt (Henrichs 58') - Groß, Andrich (Nmecha 58') - Musiala (Sané 58'), Wirtz (Gnabry 58'), Havertz - Kleindienst
Unused subs: Nübel, Ortega, Gosens, Schlotterbeck, Brandt, Führich
Out: Füllkrug (calf), Leweling (thigh), Pavlović (collarbone), Stiller (muscle), Undav (thigh)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Bosnia: Vasilj - Muharemović, Barišić, Bičakčić (c), Omerović - Burnić, Šunjić (Huseinbasić 74'), Gigović (Bajraktarević 63') - Tahirović (Bašić 63'), Demirović (Hajradinović 85'), Kulenović (Baždar 63')
Unused subs: Hadžikić, Zlomislić, Dedić, Čelik, Đakovac, Džeko
Out: -
Coach: Sergej Barbarez
As it happened!
7 - 0(3 - 0)
Germany
FINAL
Bosnia
90'
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Three additional minutes
There will be three minutes added on.
89'
vs
Haris Hajradinović
85'
vs
Haris Hajradinović
Ermedin Demirović
84'
vs
Blocked by his own man!
Sané gets to the byline before flashing the ball across goal. Both Groß and Gnabry arrive at the far post looking to tap it home, and the ball finds Groß whose shot is blocked by Gnabry who had slid in ahead of him looking to score himself.
76'
vs
Jonathan Tah
74'
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Denis Huseinbasić
Ivan Šunjić
73'
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Kimmich can't continue
After having his injury assessed, it's decided that Kimmich can't continue and he is replaced by Koch.
73'
vs
Robin Koch
Joshua Kimmich
70'
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Kimmich down
Kimmich is down with what seems to be an ankle problem. Play is stopped as he receives treatment.
63'
vs
Esmir Bajraktarević
Armin Gigović
63'
vs
Samed Baždar
Luka Kulenović
63'
vs
Ivan Bašić
Benjamin Tahirović
61'
vs
Ringing the changes
With a five goal cushion, Nagelsmann sees the opportunity to make four changes.
58'
vs
Benjamin Henrichs
Maximilian Mittelstädt
58'
vs
Felix Nmecha
Robert Andrich
58'
vs
Leroy Sané
Jamal Musiala
58'
vs
Serge Gnabry
Florian Wirtz
55'
vs
Mittelstädt volleys over
The ball bounces invitingly to the Stuttgart left-backjust outside the area, but his first-time effort sails over the bar.
46'
vs
We're back!
The action resumes here in Freiburg.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
45'
vs
Great chance
Gigović finds himself face to face with Baumann inside the box, but his low, first-time effort only finds the foot of the outstretched 'keeper.
44'
vs
Wirtz tries his luck
Wirtz receives the ball just inside the area and shifts the ball onto his left before getting a shot off. His effort takes a deflections and finds its way into Vasilj's arms.
42'
vs
Almost a fourth
Musiala finds Havertz with a great through ball into the area, but Vasilj is out quickly to smother Havertz's first-time effort.
34'
vs
Shot on target
Bosnia make good progress into Germany's half, and a one-two combination on the edge of the box ends with a shot into Baumann's hands.
32'
vs
Musiala with a rocket!
Following a short corner, Musiala makes his way to the edge of the area before unleashing a powerful bending effort toward Vasilj's top left corner, but his effort can't find the target.
28'
vs
Maintaining the pressure
As we approach the half hour mark, it is still Germany firmly in control of possession. Bosnia have struggled to escape their half until now.
17'
vs
Havertz heads wide
Rüdiger whips in a great cross from the right and it finds the head of Havertz, who glances his header wide from inside the area.
14'
vs
Tough to break down
Since conceding early on, Bosnia have regrouped well. The hosts are struggling to find space in the final third despite their best efforts.
10'
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Looking to double their lead
The hosts have not let up since opening the scoring. An inviting Mittelstädt cross is headed down by Kimmich at the first post, but no-one is there to pounce on it.
7'
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Aggressive start
From the first minute, Germany have been intense in their pressing and have moved the ball with purpose. Bosnia have struggled to get hold of the ball in these opening stages.
1'
vs
We're underway!
The visitors get the ball rolling.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
vs
Feeling at home
Nico Schlotterbeck, Oliver Baumann and Robin Koch are in familiar territory today, as all three return to the ground of their former club Freiburg. Between them, they made 262 appearances for the Breisgau club.
vs
First time triple
Germany have the opportunity to win three Nations League games in a row for the first time tonight. A win in Freiburg tonight would therefore add further evidence to the positive progress Julian Nagelsmann is making as head coach.
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More on those teams
Germany make three changes to the side that beat Bosnia 2-1 in October. Baumann, Musiala and Havertz come in for Nübel, Gnabry and Undav. Kleindienst maintains his spot at the head of Germany's attack having started the previous two games. Bosnia have a very different starting lineup to the last encounter with seven changes in total, most notable of those being Edin Džeko dropping to the bench.
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Germany starting lineup
Baumann - Kimmich (c), Rüdiger, Tah, Mittelstädt - Groß, Andrich - Musiala, Wirtz, Havertz - Kleindienst
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Germany subs
Nübel, Ortega, Gosens, Henrichs, Koch, Schlotterbeck, Brandt, Führich, Nmecha, Gnabry, Sané
vs
Bosnia starting lineup
Vasilj - Muharemović, Barišić, Bičakčić (c), Omerović - Burnić, Šunjić, Gigović - Tahirović, Demirović, Kulenović
vs
Bosnia subs
Hadžikić, Zlomislić, Dedić, Čelik, Hajradinović, Bašić, Bajraktarević, Đakovac, Baždar, Huseinbasić, Džeko
vs
Familiar faces in Freiburg
Tonight's match at the Europa-Park Stadion means a return to Breisgau for Oli Baumann and Nico Schlotterbeck, who both rose through the ranks at Freiburg. Defender Robin Koch and striker Tim Kleindienst also spent time at the club, whilst Bosnia striker Ermedin Demirović, who now plies his trade at Baden-Württemburg rivals Stuttgart, also had a stint at the side currently fifth in the Bundesliga.
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Bosnia seeking to end winless run
Bosnia-Herzegovina last won an international fixture in October 2023, as they defeated Liechtenstein 2-0 in a EURO 2024 qualifier. They have failed to win in any of their ten matches since that day, and a loss tonight would see them relegated to Nations League B, continuing their yo-yo trend in the competition since it began in 2018/19.