Germany vs Northern Ireland – Match preview and team news

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The Football Faithful

·7 September 2025

Germany vs Northern Ireland – Match preview and team news

Germany face Northern Ireland at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne on Sunday evening in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Die Mannschaft suffered a shock 2-0 defeat away to Slovakia, marking their first-ever loss in an away World Cup qualifier. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland secured an impressive 3-1 victory over Luxembourg in their Group A opener, giving Michael O’Neill’s men renewed hope of reaching their first World Cup since 1986.

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This crucial encounter sees Germany desperately needing three points to kickstart their qualifying campaign, while Northern Ireland will be aiming to capitalise on their momentum and cause a major upset in Cologne.

Germany vs Northern Ireland – Match preview and team news

Date: 7th September, Sunday.
Kick-off: 7:45pm BST.
Venue: RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne.

Germany team news

After a shocking defeat against Slovakia in their first match of the qualifiers in which they created an xG of 1.74 and had a total of 14 shots but to no success, Germany will certainly look to bounce back from that defeat and gain some momentum.

Julian Nagelsmann will surely change his starting XI after suggesting his players are not putting in enough effort. “Apart from 2-3 injured players, these are the best quality players we have in Germany,” he said this week.

“Maybe next time we have to call up players with less quality but who will give everything on the pitch. I trust my players, but being simply a better player than the opponent is not enough if you don’t show willingness and desire. Why do you think a team like Wiesbaden almost drew 2-2 with FC Bayern? It’s not because they have better quality, but because they showed emotionality and desire.”

Key players such as Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Deniz Undav, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Nico Schlotterbeck are all missing through injury.

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Northern Ireland team news

Northern Ireland head into their World Cup qualifier against Germany boosted by a 3-1 win over Luxembourg, their first competitive away victory since March 2023.

Despite injuries to key players like Daniel Ballard, Brodie Spencer, and Paul Smyth, manager Michael O’Neill has fielded a resilient and youthful side featuring notable performers such as Shea Charles, Justin Devenny, and Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

The Green and White Army are likely to use a 3-4-2-1 formation similar to their Luxembourg match, which they won 3-1, focusing on defensive solidity and wing-back width from Bradley and Devenny.

The key for Northern Ireland will be maintaining their recent form and defensive discipline while harnessing the energy of their young players to challenge the hosts in Cologne on September 7, 2025.

Read – Northern Ireland predicted lineup and team news vs Germany

Form

Germany: WDLLL

Germany have now lost three matches on the trot following the upset caused by Slovakia, leaving them fourth in the Group A table. Their last win came in March when they beat Italy in the first leg of the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals. That was followed up with a draw against the Italians and defeats to Portugal and France.

Northern Ireland: DLLWW

Northern Ireland are gathering momentum after they followed up a friendly victory over Iceland with their midweek success in Luxembourg.

The team showed resilience and tactical discipline on Thursday, despite contending with several key injuries, with emerging young players such as Shea Charles and Justin Devenny making significant impacts.

The victory marks their first competitive away win in over two years, boosting confidence ahead of tougher matches. Their solid defensive structure and team unity underpin their positive momentum going forward.

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