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World Cup qualification
As of: April 13, 2026 5:12 p.m
Germany’s soccer players want to take the next step towards the 2027 World Cup in Brazil on Tuesday evening in Nuremberg. After two clear opening victories in qualifying, the pointless Austrians now face an opponent for whom almost everything is on the line.
If you love a bit of thrill and are an early riser, you can get there on Tuesday in Nuremberg well before the kick-off of Germany’s duel with the Alpine republic (6.15 p.m., in the live ticker and Audio live stream at sportschau.de and live on ZDF) get their money’s worth. From 8 a.m., a local company is offering a smartphone city rally under the motto “Traces of the Past” that combines “the best of a scavenger hunt, city tour and escape room,” as they say.
Is the Max Morlock Stadium also part of the trip? Unknown. But from the perspective of German footballers, a trace of the past definitely leads to the arena of the second division team 1. FC Nürnberg. Around a year ago, the record European champions also met Austria there in the Nations League group phase and, after initial problems and an early 0-1 deficit, ultimately won clearly 4-1.
A similarly clear outcome can now be expected from the paper form in the World Cup qualifying game. While Germany has so far lived up to its role as favorite, the Austrians lost both Norway and outsiders Slovenia 0-1.
Austria wants to restore its honor
The group victory and the associated direct ticket to the Sugarloaf Mountain can only be solved for coach Alexander Schriebel’s team if the DFB team is beaten first in Nuremberg and then next Saturday (6 p.m., live on sportschau.de) at home in Ried.
Nothing was more difficult than that for the sensational semi-finalist of the 2017 European Championship. The team recently regularly got “a screw” against Germany, as a major defeat is called in Austria. The team lost the Nations League second leg last year in front of their own crowd in Vienna 0-6.
A bankruptcy that still has an impact today. “I have to say quite honestly, we can’t afford that again. It’s also about our names, our market value and honor. I don’t feel like traveling back to Munich with a pack. For me personally, it’s about a lot,” said midfielder Barbara Dunst from FC Bayern.
Minge’s fear: “They will give 200 percent”
For Austria it is about much more than three points. It’s about rehabilitation for the neighboring country. The German players are also aware of this and are expecting an opponent who will fight for every inch of the pitch.
“I know they will give 200 percent to upset us,” said vice-captain Janina Minge. Jule Brand (OL Lyonnes) also took the same line: “Austria will make it very difficult for us. That’s why we have to play well together as a team and function well.”
Brand demands even more consistency in attack
Just like last time, when Slovenia was defeated 5-0 and a surprisingly clear 4-0 win was celebrated in Norway. Despite the great haul of six points and nine goals in two games, not everything that glittered on the scoreboard was gold. Anyway, found Brand.
Jule Brand (l.) wants to outrun the Austrians again like she did here in the 2025 game in Nuremberg.
“We can create even more chances to score and play the last pass even more consistently,” explained the former Wolfsburg player, who could return to the tenth position and become a key figure there.
Her move to France last summer was good for the 23-year-old. Since then, she has also taken on more responsibility in the national team and appears more determined than before in her entire demeanor on the pitch. “There are so many top players at Lyon that I learn from in every training session,” said Brand: “I learn things from them.”
DFB squad with a good mix of young and old
Despite her young age, the offensive player is already about to make her 72nd appearance for the national team against Austria. Only attacker Lea Schüller (Manchester United/84 international matches) from the current squad appeared more often for the DFB team.
Overall, the squad offers a good mix of experienced players like keeper Ann-Katrin Berger or defender Rebecca Knaak and young players like Jella Veit – the “chick” in the team at 20 – or Franziska Kett and Carlotta Wamser, who have already played in a European Championship in their early 20s.
Wück refrains from experimenting with personnel
Despite the two clear opening successes, national coach Christian Wück refrains from experimenting with personnel. The coach has his framework in mind for the upcoming tasks and probably also for the probable event of participation in the World Cup.
National coach Christian Wück relies on proven forces against Austria.
“We want confirmation of the last few months, the last six months,” demanded the Lower Franconian before his personal home game. That’s why there are now many faces in the squad “that we know, who have already proven that they can play football at a high level,” explained the 52-year-old ex-professional. “Of course we hope for the same against Austria because we want to take the next step towards the World Cup.”
Bühl and Zicai are out – Mühlhaus has moved up
Wück will have to do without world-class attacker Klara Bühl and young striker Cora Zicai against Austria. Both are out injured. Selina Cerci, who was not able to play in the first qualifying games, is back and Larissa Mühlhaus has moved up due to the absences.
But the decisive factor against the Austrians in crisis will probably not be who is on the pitch, but rather how Germany will approach the supposedly mandatory task. “It’s about finding playful solutions, having ideas and game intelligence,” demanded Wück.
In principle, it’s about the same thing for his footballers as it is for the participants in the Nuremberg city rally. Only with the small difference that the DFB team is not looking for traces of the past, but wants to stay on the road to success…
