UEFA World Cup Qualifying: Slovakia vs Germany preview, team news & predicted lineups | OneFootball

Tehelné Pole will host the clash between Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany and Francesco Calzona’s Slovakia, with both sides eager to start their qualifying journey on the front foot.

Slovakia

Slovakia begin their bid for World Cup 2026 qualification aiming to reach the finals for only the second time as an independent nation. Their first and only appearance came at South Africa 2010, when they shocked many by advancing to the knockout stages after defeating holders Italy in the group phase.

Calzona’s side arrive in poor form, winless in 2025 so far. Their most recent international break brought heavy disappointment - a 4-1 defeat to Greece followed by a 1-0 loss to Israel - while experimenting with a new back three that failed to deliver the desired results.

The squad selection has also raised a few eyebrows. Veteran Peter Pekarík, set to turn 39 and having just joined up with Hertha BSC’s fourth-division reserve team, has been named in the side - highlighting a lack of right-back options according to Calzona. At the other end of the scale, striker Tomáš Bobček has received his first senior call-up after an impressive start scoring five goals in seven matches for Lechia Gdańsk this season.

Unfortunately for Slovakia, first team regulars Denis Vavro of Wolfsburg and Tomáš Suslov of Hellas Verona are both unavailable for selection due to injury. Adding to the unfavourable list are defenders Samuel Kozlovský and Dominic Javorček, making the Italian’s life just that little bit harder as they approach a tough start to their qualifying campaign.

Nevertheless, despite acknowledging the task at hand Calzona remains defiant in the face of adversity whilst backing his players all the way: “We are going to play against them with players who will definitely give their all. I am happy to be able to coach them and I am sure that we will leave the field with everything we have left. Even though we are missing some players, I have great confidence in those who have been nominated. This is the most difficult moment since I have been here, so I hope that a full stadium will come to our aid.”

Team news:

Before a ball has even been kicked, Slovakia’s injury problems have worsened with winger Lukáš Haraslín having to leave the camp on Monday after picking up an injury, whilst fellow winger Ivan Schranz is said to have undergone fitness tests also. There are further question marks over the fitness of midfielders László Bénes, Ondrej Duda and Matúš Bero which could mean we see a very different Slovak eleven than first predicted.

Germany

Four time world champions Germany come together for the first time since June’s disappointing UEFA Nation’s League finals which saw them fail to win against Portugal and France on home soil. Despite that setback, Nagelsmann’s side remain strong favourites for this one and will be targeting a statement performance to eradicate any doubts from the last international break.

Nagelsmann has attempted to inject fresh energy into the squad by naming three new faces to the national team ahead of September’s qualifiers. FC Augsburg keeper Finn Dahmen (27), Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nnamdi Collins (21), and Mainz 05 star Paul Nebel (22) are all set to make their debuts and will be hungry to nail down a place in the squad going forward.

Much like their hosts, Die Nationalelf find themselves without some potential key regulars as Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Nico Schlotterbeck and Marc-André ter Stegen are all unavailable through injury. Meanwhile, Leroy Sane is another notable absentee following his move to Galatasaray - with Nagelsmann suggesting his need to “stand out more” in the Turkish Super Lig.

One of the seemingly minor details is that Joshua Kimmich will once again play in the defensive midfield position for the German national team - and not at right-back as he has recently done. An adjustment to the formation is also possible, in order to achieve greater stability and greater dominance over the game than what was most recently seen in the Nations League.

Defender Jonathan Tah is predicting a fiery game on Thursday, calling on his team mates to set the tone from minute one: "It will be a very intense, perhaps even emotional game, we have to manage to bring our pace and intensity onto the pitch right away, and then I believe the game will end very positively for us."

Germany will take confidence from their strong record against Slovakia. The last competitive meeting came at Euro 2016, when Joachim Löw’s side cruised to a 3-0 victory en route to the semi-finals. While this is a very different Germany under Julian Nagelsmann, the aim and expectation remains the same: to capitalize on a Slovakia squad especially hampered by injuries and navigate seamlessly through what could otherwise be a tricky opening fixture.

Team news:

Nagelsmann has no fresh injury concerns from the squad named. Florian Wirtz, who suffered cramps at the end of his team's 1-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday, has also been involved in training and is expected to be fit and ready to go Thursday.

Predicted lineups

Slovakia (4-3-3): Dúbravka (GK) - Mesík, Gyömbér, Škriniar, Hancko - Bero, Lobotka, Duda - Schranz, Boženík, Tupta

Germany (4-2-3-1): Baumann (GK) - Collins, Rüdiger, Tah, Raum - Kimmich, Goretzka - Adeyemi, Wirtz, Gnabry - Woltemade