Bundesliga
Germany slip up in Slovakia
Germany fell to their first-ever away defeat in FIFA World Cup qualifying after beginning their 2026 campaign with a surprise 2-0 loss to Slovakia in Bratislava.
Slovakia 2-0 Germany
Goals: 1-0 Hancko 42' (assist: Strelec) 2-0 Strelec 55' (assist: Gyömber)
The signs were there for Germany as former Hertha Berlin and Cologne midfielder Ondrej Duda flashed a shot just wide in the second minute.
Oliver Baumann twice denied Leo Sauer either side of Duda striking the woodwork, before the visitors threatened for the first time through Maximilian Mittelstädt. Florian Wirtz followed suit, but Martin Dúbravka was equal to the task.
Slovakia went one better on the stroke of half-time when Dávid Hancko beat Baumann with a well-placed strike from inside the area.
Germany showed signs of life as Leon Goretzka made Dúbravka work after the restart, only for Slovakia to forge ahead with their next meaningful attack. David Strelec was the scorer with a smart run and emphatic finish into the top corner.
The introduction of Karim Adeyemi injected momentary urgency into proceedings, but Goretzka could not land his attempt on target after combining with the Borussia Dortmund-based substitute.
Germany will now look to dust themselves off and get their first points on the board when they face Northern Ireland in their second Group A fixture on 7 September.
Match stats
- Germany have never not qualified for a World Cup. They did not enter the inaugural 1930 edition and were barred from entering in 1950.
- These teams have faced each other 12 times so far, with Germany winning eight and Slovakia four.
- The most recent of those encounters was a 3-0 victory for Germany in the round of 16 at the 2016 European Championship. Joshua Kimmich and Jonathan Tah are the only members of that squad still involved today.
- Julian Nagelsmann's overall record as Germany coach reads: W12 D6 L6.
- Slovakia last played at a World Cup at the 2010 edition in South Africa.
- Serge Gnabry has more international goals than any other current member of Germany's squad (22). He is followed by Goretzka (15), Niclas Füllkrug (14) and Kimmich (eight).
Teams
Slovakia: Dúbravka - Gyömber, Šatka, Škriniar (c), Hancko - Bero, Lobotka, Duda (Bénes 90') - Ďuriš (Rigo 66'), Strelec (Boženík 83'), Sauer (Tupta 83')
Unused subs: Rodák, Takáč, Pekarík, Mesík, Obert, Hrošovský, Bobček, Kmeť
Out: -
Coach: Francesco Calzona
Germany: Baumann - Collins (Raum 46'), Rüdiger, Tah, Mittelstädt - Kimmich (c), Stiller (Amiri 60') - Gnabry (Adeyemi 66'), Goretzka, Wirtz - Woltemade
Unused subs: Nübel, Dahmen, Koch, Groß, Leweling, Füllkrug, Anton, Nebel, Andrich
Out: Havertz (knee), Kleindienst (knee), Musiala (broken ankle), Schlotterbeck (knee), ter Stegen (back)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
As it happened!
2 - 0(1 - 0)
Slovakia
FINAL
Germany
90'
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Maximilian Mittelstädt
90'
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László Bénes
Ondrej Duda
89'
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Karim Adeyemi
90'
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Five minutes added on
There is not long left at all for Germany to produce something special.
85'
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Flat
Germany have struggled to exert any sustained pressure in this second half. They are now staring at defeat unless they can stage a late, late comeback.
83'
vs
Sauer off
The youngster comes off for a well deserved rest. He was a thorn in Germany's side throughout the first half.
83'
vs
Ľubomír Tupta
Leo Sauer
83'
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Róbert Boženík
David Strelec
61'
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Antonio Rüdiger
72'
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Wide
Adeyemi is involved, laying the ball off for Goretzka. The Bayern man's shot is deflected behind.
66'
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A sub apiece
Gnabry, who injured his arm in the first half, is replaced by Adeyemi. Will that provide Germany with some extra edge?
66'
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Tomáš Rigo
Michal Ďuriš
66'
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Karim Adeyemi
Serge Gnabry
64'
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Wide
Kimmich tries to catch Dúbravka out, but his low shot hits the side netting.
64'
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Free-kick
Germany have a set-piece in a dangerous position. Can they pull one back here?
60'
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Change in the middle
Amiri is brought on by Nagelsmann as he looks for some extra threat in midfield. The Mainz man has an early chance to impress, but pulls a shot wide of the post.
60'
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Nadiem Amiri
Angelo Stiller
46'
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David Raum
Nnamdi Collins
55'
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Two in front!
Strelec wasted an easier chance moments before, but he now has his team two to the good as he cuts inside Rüdiger before curling into the top corner. Germany's task just got harder.
54'
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Chance!
A brilliant opening for Strelec, who is found on the edge of the box unmarked. However, his first-time shot goes straight into Baumann's grateful hands.
53'
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Wide
Woltemade heads past the post. Germany are at least getting more shots off here.
51'
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History on Germany's side
Remarkably, Germany have never lost a World Cup qualifier away from home. There is still time to keep to make sure that record remains intact.
48'
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Great stop
Germany's first chance of the second period falls the way of Goretzka, who draws a save from Dúbravka. Hopefully for Nagelsmann and Co., that is far from the last chance of the game.
46'
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Back underway
Germany have 45 minutes left to turn this game around. They need to do much more than in the first half.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
43'
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Slovakia in front!
The home side have been dangerous for most of the half, and they now have their lead. Sauer is not involved, but the goal comes from the right, as Hancko plays a one two before sweeping home from inside the area. Work for Germany to do now!
42'
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Sauer again
The winger continues to terrorise the right side of the Germany defence. This time, he skips past Collins and fires in a stunning cross for Strelec. He doesn't read it, though, and doesn't get the right connection.
38'
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Slight lull
The game has quietened down in the past few minutes. There's still time before the break for either team to make the difference, though.
32'
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Brilliant stop
Wirtz has been quiet so far, but he burst into life, dribbling past an opponent before drawing a stop from Dúbravka down to his right. It just goes to show that he can strike in instant.
31'
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Over
Woltemade gets on the end of Mittelstädt's cross, but he can't keep it down and it instead goes well over the crossbar.
27'
vs
Sauer again
Slovakia's 19-year-old is proving to be a real problem for Germany at the moment. This time, he has Rüdiger in all sort of trouble, and only a Tah block stops Baumann from being tested once again. Nagelsmann has to find a solution for the teenager.
27'
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Save
Kimmich is next to try his luck, but this one is straight at Dúbravka and he easily holds.
24'
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Denied!
Germany then break down the other end and, after Woltemade is thwarted by a Slovakia defender, Mittelstädt's shot is pushed behind by Dúbravka. From the resulting corner, Rüdiger's heads wide. The game has suddenly burst into life!
23'
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Sauer again
Another chance for Sauer from a similar position. Again, though, it is at a good height for Baumann to save. Germany, though, are struggling to contain the 19-year-old at the moment.
22'
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Post!
From the set-piece, former Hertha man Duda strikes the post! Slovakia are starting to cause problems.
21'
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Save!
Baumann is called into action for the first time, and he needs to be on his toes to parry Sauer's shot behind for a corner. That is the best opening of the game so far.
16'
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High press
When Slovakia get on the ball in their own half, Germany are looking to press them as early as possible.
11'
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Spell of possession
For the first time in the match, the hosts have the ball for a sustained period. Still no shots from either team yet.
6'
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Plenty of the ball
Nagelsmann's side are enjoying the majority of possession in these early stages. Still, they'v4 not troubled Dúbravka between the Slovakia sticks just yet.
2'
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Close!
A very early chance for Slovakia. Duda flashes a first-time cross across the face of goal, but two Slovakia players are inches away from getting on the end of it. An early warning for the visitors.
1'
vs
Underway
We are up and running here in Bratislava.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
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Almost ready for kick-off
The two teams are making their onto the field of play.
604s
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Watch: The best of Nick Woltemade
Following his transfer to Newcastle United, Woltemade has been picked to lead the line by Nagelsmann against Slovakia. Enjoy some of his best moments from his time at VfB Stuttgart.
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More on that Germany team
Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nnamdi Collins makes his senior Germany debut in Bratislava this evening. The 21-year-old looks set to start at right-back, freeing up captain Joshua Kimmich for a place in central midfield alongside VfB Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller.
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Slovakia starting XI
Dúbravka - Gyömber, Šatka, Škriniar, Hancko - Bero, Lobotka, Duda - Ďuriš, Strelec, Sauer
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Slovakia subs
Rodák, Takáč, Pekarík, Mesík, Obert, Boženík, Bénes, Tupta, Hrošovský, Bobček, Kmeť, Rigo