Germany off to poor World Cup qualifying start, Bayern stars fail to shine | OneFootball

The start of the 2026 World Cup qualification could not have gone worse for Germany. Julian Nagelsmann's team deservedly lost 0-2 to Slovakia in Bratislava, marking their first-ever away defeat in a World Cup qualifying match. Particularly bitter: Even the Bayern stars had a night to forget.

Tah with a major mistake – Kimmich without control

For Jonathan Tah, it was a night to forget. The new FC Bayern signing appeared uncertain and erratic from the start. During Slovakia's opening goal in the 28th minute, he allowed opponent Strelec to make an unchallenged assist, significantly contributing to the 0-1. Alongside Antonio Rüdiger, he never found his footing in the game and exuded no stability.

Joshua Kimmich also disappointed. Ironically, against Slovakia, the team against whom he had a weak performance during his DFB debut in 2016, the Bayern captain once again had a bad day. In the midfield center, he made uncharacteristic passing errors, never gained control over the center, and did not act as a driving force. Emotional leadership qualities were absent – an unusual sight for the otherwise prominent FCB leader.

Goretzka lackluster – Gnabry in the wrong position

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Leon Goretzka also failed to make an impact. Positioned as a number ten, he was barely visible for long stretches. In the 13th minute, he missed a good opportunity when he was stopped by Skriniar in the penalty area. Shortly after the break, he had another dangerous attempt, but again lacked precision. After that, he completely disappeared and left more questions than answers.

Serge Gnabry started from the beginning, but on the right wing – a role that suits him less in the DFB team. While he recently impressed in the center for FC Bayern, contributing to three goals in two league matches, he remained offensively harmless in Bratislava. His most notable moments were in defense, where he won several duels. Remarkably, the two left-backs often played more offensively than he did. His workday ended after 66 minutes.

Historic false start for Nagelsmann

The 0-2 in Bratislava is more than just a defeat. It was Germany's first loss in a World Cup qualifying match on foreign soil – a historic low point. The Bayern players, from whom leadership and individual class were expected, collectively remained lackluster.

For national coach Julian Nagelsmann, the opening defeat is a severe setback. He must quickly stabilize his team to avoid putting qualification at risk early on. It is clear: Especially the Bayern stars are particularly obliged to turn things around in the upcoming matches after this weak performance.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.