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Coach Nagelsmann's 25th national team game serves as a blueprint, extending beyond World Cup qualifying. He will strategize against Northern Ireland following an initial setback.

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2025 September 15 . 10:08 PM

2 min read

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The German national football team is gearing up for their World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland on Sunday, with coach Julian Nagelsmann focusing on the upcoming game and not the qualification.

After a disappointing opening defeat in the Nations League final tournament against Slovakia, the team is in need of improvement. Nagelsmann has acknowledged this, expressing the need for "emotional football" and "energetic teamwork" to turn things around.

Changes are expected in the attack, despite limited options due to the absence of players like Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, and Tim Kleindienst. One player under the spotlight is Florian Wirtz, who was trained as a youth player at FC but switched to Bayer Leverkusen. His form since his transfer may not affect his role in the German team, as he remains an essential and untouchable difference-maker for Nagelsmann.

Pascal Groß of Borussia Dortmund could start on the right, with Joshua Kimmich expected to stay in midfield. Kimmich has expressed concerns about a lack of aggression in possession in the previous game, and Nagelsmann is hopeful that the team can address this issue in the match against Northern Ireland.

The German defence could potentially be strengthened by the leadership and experience of Mats Hummels, a key figure from the 2014 German World Cup-winning team. Hummels will be honoured before the kick-off in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the national team and his career achievements.

Rudi Völler, the sports director of the German national team, has shown solidarity with Nagelsmann before the final training session. Völler, along with the team, is confident that they can bounce back from their previous losses against Portugal (1:2) and France (0:2).

The match between Germany and Northern Ireland will take place on Sunday at 20:45 CET and will be broadcast on RTL. Fans are encouraged to bring their energy and support to help the team secure a victory.

Oliver Baumann, the goalkeeper of the German national team, emphasized the importance of "energy, tackling, and winning second balls" after the team's "lifeless" performance in Slovakia. With this in mind, the team is determined to put in a strong showing against Northern Ireland.

Julian Nagelsmann has developed a new "idea" involving changes to the personnel, but not all ten field players will be rotated. The coach expressed confidence in winning the match against Northern Ireland, and with the support of the fans and the determination of the team, they aim to secure a much-needed victory.