World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland
Nagelsmann commits himself: This is how Germany starts
October 13, 2025 – 7:30 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Before the game against Northern Ireland, Julian Nagelsmann was unsure about a position. It is now clear who the national coach is betting on in the starting line-up.
In the groundbreaking World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland, national coach Julian Nagelsmann is once again relying on his “Sinsheimers”. The German team, which won against Luxembourg in Kraichgau on Friday (4-0), should now hold its own in the heated atmosphere in Windsor Park in Belfast (from 8.45 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online).
This is how Germany starts against Northern Ireland:
Joshua Kimmich will continue to play as a right-back in the DFB uniform. The captain, who plays in the center at FC Bayern, emphasized a few days ago that he now “doesn’t care at all” where he plays in the national team and is needed. Aleksandar Pavlović and Leon Goretzka once again form the midfield center.
By the way: Before the duel against Northern Ireland, Nagelsmann reduced his squad to 23 players: Jamie Leweling had already left on Saturday due to ongoing adductor problems. Kevin Schade and Noah Atubolu also did not fly with the team to Northern Ireland. The trio was already not taken into account against Luxembourg.
In the first leg in September, Germany struggled for a long time to win 3-1. At the time, Nagelsmann described the Northern Irish style of play as unattractive, with lots of long balls. He caused anger among his opponents. “I didn’t want to be disrespectful,” said Nagelsmann in Belfast. Coach Michael O’Neill’s team is a tough competitor – and has not lost its last seven home games.
On the way to the 2026 World Cup finals, Nagelsmann has planned for another victory after a mixed start to qualifying. “We have to win there too,” he said. In Group A, leaders Germany, Northern Ireland and Slovakia are level on six points. Only the first person wins the direct World Cup ticket. The Northern Irish are going into their next home game confident after their recent 2-0 win against Slovakia.
The German line-up: 1 Baumann – 6 Kimmich, 4 Tah, 15 Schlotterbeck, 22 Raum – 8 Goretzka, 5 Pavlović – 14 Adeyemi, 20 Gnabry, 17 Wirtz – 11 Woltemade.