Bundesliga
Woltemade the difference in Belfast
Nick Woltemade opened his international account as Germany retained their place at the summit of Group A of European qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland in Belfast.
Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany
Goals: 0-1 Woltemade 31' (assist: Raum)
Julian Nagelsmann's men entered the encounter at the top of their group on six points, albeit only ahead of Slovakia and Northern Ireland on goal difference, setting up an intriguing encounter at Windsor Park.
The first half was a tight affair, with the raucous home support in the Northern Irish capital cheering every tackle and intervention from their side. Chances were few and far between, with Florian Wirtz's shot over the bar and Aleksandar Pavlović's attempt that curled narrowly wide comprising the visitors' only two real efforts in the opening half-hour.
In fact, the home team thought they had taken the lead when Daniel Ballard poked home from close range following a goalmouth scramble. However, the goal was ruled out as Paddy McNair was offside in the build-up.
Ultimately, Germany went into the break with their noses in front as they broke the deadlock through Woltemade, whose attempted header ended up going in off his back from David Raum's corner.
Within minutes of the restart, Karim Adeyemi had a gilt-edged opportunity to extend Germany's advantage but curled narrowly wide of the post from Wirtz's through ball. At the other end, Shea Charles was denied by Oliver Baumann before Serge Gnabry forced Bailey Peacock-Farrell into action midway through the half.
As full-time approached, Northern Ireland increased their pressure on the Germany goal. But Nagelsmann's backline stood strong to secure an important three points in their quest for a spot at next summer's showpiece, although Baumann was called into action to to keep out Callum Marshall's low shot.
Nagelsmann and Co. are still ahead of Slovakia, whom they face in November, on goal difference only. Ahead of that match, they will travel to Luxembourg in their penultimate qualification game.
Match stats
- Joshua Kimmich now sits joint-tenth spot on Germany's all-time appearance list.
- Gnabry - who has three goals in six games in this season's Bundesliga - is on 24 goals for his country.
- Nagelsmann’s record over his first 28 matches as Germany head coach reads: W16, D6, L6.
- This was Northern Ireland's first defeat in their past seven matches at Windsor Park.
- Germany have now picked up clean sheets in back-to-back games after conceding in each of their previous seven outings.
- Germany have never failed to qualify for a World Cup.
Teams
Germany: Baumann - Kimmich (c), Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum - Goretzka, Pavlović (Anton 87') - Wirtz (Burkardt 90'+1), Gnabry (Andrich 87'), Adeyemi (Beier 65') - Woltemade (Baku 90'+1)
Unused subs: Nübel, Dahmen, Amiri, Brown, Koch, Nmecha, Stiller
Out: Atubolu (knee), Füllkrug (calf), Havertz (knee), Leweling (groin), Musiala (ankle), Rüdiger (hamstring), Schade (did not travel)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell - Spencer, Ballard, McNair (Smyth 75'), Hume (c), Devenny - Galbraith, S. Charles, McCann (Marshall 75') - Reid (Magennis 46'), Price
Unused subs: Hazard, Southwood, Devlin, D. Charles, Toal, Saville, Donley, McConville, McDonnell
Out: Bradley (suspended)
Coach: Michael O'Neill
As it happened!
0 - 1(0 - 1)
N. Ireland
FINAL
Germany
90' +3
vs
Tempers flare
Yellow cards are shown to Andrich, Charles and Magennis after a brawl breaks out in the aftermath of Northern Ireland's late corner.
90' +3
vs
Robert Andrich
90' +3
vs
Shea Charles
90' +3
vs
Josh Magennis
90' +3
vs
Magennis!
Again, Northern Ireland throw everything forward. The ball pops up for Magennis at the edge of the box, but it's blocked behind for a corner, upon which the hosts don't manage to capitalise.
90' +2
vs
Ridle Baku
Florian Wirtz
90' +2
vs
Jonathan Burkardt
Nick Woltemade
90' +1
vs
Stoppage time
Two additional minutes have been indicated.
90' +1
vs
Smyth wins the corner
The No.11's cross is deflected behind by Raum for a corner for the hosts late on, but Devenny's subsequent delivery is overhit and goes behind for a goal-kick.
88'
vs
Marshall through on goal!
What a chance for the equaliser! Hume slips substitute Marshall through inside the Germany penalty area, however the young striker's finish is straight at Baumann.
87'
vs
Shoring things up
Nagelsmann now opts for a double change, bringing on the defensive pairing of Anton and Andrich for Pavlović and Gnabry as Germany try to hand on to their slender lead.
86'
vs
Waldemar Anton
Aleksandar Pavlović
86'
vs
Robert Andrich
Serge Gnabry
85'
vs
Just off target
Another Northern Ireland free-kick is played in from deep. Germany head it clear to the edge of the box, where Price takes on the rebound, his effort whistling past the left post beyond the out-stretched Baumann.
82'
vs
Hume hits one
The defender peels off the Northern Ireland right flank before letting fly from 35 yards. His speculative effort is blocked on the edge of the Germany penalty area.
77'
vs
Charles' effort blocked
Northern Ireland combine excellently down the right flank before teeing up Charles on the edge of the Germany box, however; his effort is blocked.
75'
vs
Double change
Michael O'Neill goes to the bench again, this time making a double substitution. It's an attacking-minded change, with Marshall and Smyth both being brought on to bolster Northern Ireland's offensive options.
75'
vs
Callum Marshall
Alistair McCann
75'
vs
Paul Smyth
Paddy McNair
71'
vs
Raum takes
It's another dangerous delivery from Raum, but the hosts are first to it. They only manage to clear as far as Beier on the edge of the box, but his follow-up effort is miscued.
70'
vs
Lashed by Gnabry
Tah picks out Gnabry on the right side of the Northern Ireland box. The Bayern man opens his body up and unleashes a powerful effort towards the near post, which Peacock-Farrell beats behind for a corner.
67'
vs
In by Charles
The wing-back takes a Northern Ireland corner from the right, but Tah rises highest to head it to safety for the visitors.
64'
vs
Nagelsmann goes to the bench
The first Germany change of the night sees Beier replace his Dortmund colleague Adeyemi, who had picked up a yellow card, as Nagelsmann looks to regain control in the second half here.
64'
vs
Maximilian Beier
Karim Adeyemi
64'
vs
McCann goes down!
The midfielder bursts into the Germany box and goes down under the challenge of Pavlović. The home crowd erupts in protest of a penalty kick, but the referee is right to not give it.
62'
vs
First German yellow
Adeyemi picks up Germany's first booking of the evening.
62'
vs
Karim Adeyemi
60'
vs
Galbraith!
This time, Northern Ireland attack down the left. Space opens up for Galbraith, who aims a low shot towards the near post. It takes a deflection on its way through, landing in the side netting. Devenny takes the subsequent corner - the hosts' first of the game - but Germany manage to clear.
59'
vs
Baumann makes the save
Price picks out Charles on the hosts' right. The ball pops up nicely for the wide man to hit inside the Germany box, but his powerful effort is straight at Baumann, who manages to parry.
46'
vs
Josh Magennis
Jamie Reid
53'
vs
Wirtz takes a tumble
The playmaker beats Charles down Germany's left before bursting into the box, where he goes down under the recovery challenge from Charles. Germany scream for a penalty, but the referee correctly dismisses the protest.
52'
vs
High tempo
So far, the second half is being played at a breakneck pace. Neither side has really given the other the opportunity to settle into it since the restart.
50'
vs
Overhit
Spencer is played in behind down the right flank for the hosts. He tries to find Devenny at the far post with a driven cross, but he puts too much on it and the chance goes begging.
49'
vs
In by Charles
The hosts have another free-kick from a promising position inside the Germany half. Charles takes, finding Price at the far post, but the forward's finish is wayward.
47'
vs
Adeyemi through on goal!
Immediately, Adeyemi is played clean through down the right channel. The Dortmund winger bears down on goal, but his finish is wide of the post. What a let off for the hosts early in the second half...
46'
vs
Back underway!
The ball is rolling again for the second half here and it's Northern Ireland who kick off.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +4
vs
Final chance of the half
Tah concedes a free-kick on Reid halfway inside the Germany half. Charles floats the ball in. It's met by a German head, but drops for McNair, who strikes from distance, his effort flying just wide of the right post.
45' +2
vs
Another booking
Galbraith is the next player to be cautioned, this time for a late challenge on Pavlović.
45' +2
vs
Ethan Galbraith
45' +1
vs
Stoppage time
Three additional minutes have been indicated.
45'
vs
Couldn't find Gnabry
Wirtz tries to float a ball in towards Gnabry, who had made a good run into the hosts' box. However, he can't quite pick out the Bayern man and the chance goes begging.
43'
vs
Skied
Galbraith beats his man down the hosts' left before picking out Reid on the edge of the Germany area. In trying to reach the ball, the forward leans back too much when connecting with it, sending his effort well over the bar. That was a good chance for Northern Ireland.
42'
vs
Miscontrolled
Adeyemi tries to pick out a run in behind from Raum. However, the covering Spencer just gets his head to it, forcing Raum to miscontrol it behind for a Northern Ireland goal-kick.
38'
vs
Threatening from set-pieces
Northern Ireland have another free-kick just inside Germany's half. It's taken short to Devenny, who puts a cross in towards Ballard. The defender knocks it down for Reid, whose header isn't powerful enough to trouble Baumann.
31'
vs
Woltemade opens the scoring!
Germany have the lead just after the half-hour mark. Raum plays an in-swinging corner from the right into the six yard box. Woltemade rises highest, guiding it past Peacock-Farrell with his shoulder. Following a brief VAR check for a potential handball, the goal stands.
28'
vs
First booking
Reid sees the first yellow card of the game for a late challenge on Schlotterbeck, who is still down receiving treatment, following the challenge.
28'
vs
Jamie Reid