Germany’s qualifying saviour? He’s the biggest hope for the DFB today | OneFootball

After the botched start in the qualifiers against Slovakia (0:2), Germany's greatest hope of participating in next year's World Cup now rests on the supposedly decisive second leg in mid-November. However, the situation could also improve by other means before then. In particular, a young player from the Premier League could turn out to be the biggest beacon of hope for German football.

"He’s a boy from our academy and already showed in the preseason in the USA that he’s an incredible footballer. He’s technically skilled, but can also run a lot and play in four positions in our system," raved Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner about Justin Devenny after preseason.

The Eagles rate him highly, especially in attacking midfield, because: "He understands the game very well, finds the spaces, and is always a goal threat."

It’s exactly this carefree attitude and the qualities of the 21-year-old that could now indirectly benefit the German national team, if Devenny, with Northern Ireland, fights for World Cup qualification against Slovakia tonight at home in Belfast’s Windsor Park.

Germany Needs Help

Due to the opening defeat, Germany is currently three points behind Slovakia. If things stay that way, the DFB will face a very, very unpleasant task in the last qualifier. It would be much more comfortable if Slovakia were to drop a few points along the way.

Even though the group leaders only secured victory against Luxembourg in the 90th minute last time, chances are probably even better that Northern Ireland could become a stumbling block for Slovakia. Slovakia still has to face them twice. That’s where German hopes will rest. And, of course, on Justin Devenny.

Just over two years ago, the midfielder was still carrying the ball from box to box for Scottish third-division side Airdrieonians FC. Before his move to the English capital to join Crystal Palace’s U21s, he quickly helped AFC secure promotion with the decisive penalty in the playoff duel.

So it was little surprise that he quickly found his way into the Eagles’ first team. His biggest supporter is Oliver Glasner, a former Bundesliga coach.

📸 Matt McNulty - 2025 Getty Images

A Player for Special Moments

After Devenny’s debut goal in only his second Premier League match, it took less than four weeks before the youngster also made his first appearance for the Northern Ireland national team, for which he qualified thanks to his mother’s heritage.

He proved once again that he’s a player for special moments during last summer’s Community Shield against Liverpool. It was Devenny who coolly and confidently converted the decisive penalty against Alisson, then stood in front of over 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, shrugging at the crowd as if to say: "What did you expect?"

Glasner was visibly impressed with his protégé at a subsequent press conference: "I’m happy that Justin Devenny took the decisive penalty. When we were looking for a fifth taker, he said he would do it – and that takes a lot of confidence. That’s exactly how we want our players to be: not afraid and not worried about making a mistake."

The attacking player is now fearlessly taking on the World Cup qualifiers. The German team felt that recently, too. Devenny provided the assist for the equalizer with a first-class corner.

In fact, he promised a few weeks ago that he would leave his heart on the pitch for the qualifiers: "We’re going to approach each of these games as if it’s the World Cup final, because we want to be at the World Cup," the 21-year-old told the online portal 'GiveMeSport'.

Football Germany can only hope he does it again tonight against Slovakia.

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

📸 Alexander Hassenstein - 2025 Getty Images