DFB-Elf: It remains tough on the way to the World Cup

analysis

As of: November 15, 2025 10:20 a.m

Because the game remains tough, the virtues of German football are being invoked more frequently in the national team. It’s enough for rough victories like in Luxembourg and probably qualification for the World Cup. More key players are needed, some of whom are currently only present.

The Luxembourg fans supported their team in the local language. When it came to insulting or annoying the opponent, they switched to German. So Florian Wirtz had to hear a request that would have gone out of fashion in German stadiums around the time he was born 22 years ago. “Practice, practice,” rang out from the stands behind the goal, which Wirtz had previously missed with a shot by several meters.

The request was a recommendation that should have been made to the team that was on the pitch at the National Stadium in Luxembourg in the second half. The team that was on the pitch before the break would have benefited from a few clearer words.

No speed, no precision, no conviction

Pace, precision and conviction were lacking before the break, and that wasn’t the end of the list. The national coach Julian Nagelsmann apologized for the appearance before the break by saying that some of the “ping-pong balls fell into the path of the Luxembourgers.” In addition, the opponent’s players would have significantly lower stress levels than the professionals wearing the German Football Association jersey.

That’s true, but it comes from the fact that the Luxembourgers’ fewer playing minutes are due to the fact that they are under contract with clubs like SKN St. Pölten, SC Bastia and SpVgg Greuther Fürth, while on the other hand there are clubs like Newcastle United, FC Liverpool and FC Bayern Munich.

Adjustments bear fruit after the break

The “problems caused by high starts” that Nagelsmann identified should therefore have been easier and quicker to resolve, especially since the national coach had recognized another problem: “We invited the opponent to press with a lot of back passes.”

Nagelsmann admitted that he had given some thought to his style of speech during the break. He then decided on an objective analysis of the error with suggested solutions, also because he had the “feeling” that the team would not be able to tolerate it well if they hit it wildly.

Through a few adjustments such as smaller distances between the individual parts of the team, more speed and more effort, things got better after the break and a 2-0 “fighting victory”, as David Raum noted, who called for “go for everything” for the game on Monday (November 17th, 2025) against Slovakia in Leipzig, then direct qualification for the 2025 World Cup will be achieved.

Kimmich, Schlotterbeck and Musiala are missing

However, the past few months have shown that it is a misconception to dominate opponents who at first glance appear to be inferior if the “virtues” are shown, which are now often talked about in German football

If the DFB doesn’t select key players, the game often becomes tough. Captain Joshua Kimmich was missing in Luxembourg, and the strength of central defender Nico Schlotterbeck in the opening game would have been good, but above all the dribbling and speed of Jamal Musiala, who, in combination with Florian Wirtz, is an even greater threat even to opponents whose professionals are also regularly used in the Champions League.

Wirtz longs for Experience of success

Above all, Wirtz was also missing. He was there, but it was Wirtz who, after a brief upswing, plunged back into depression at Liverpool FC. How great the former Leverkusen player’s longing for a sense of achievement was shown by another shot that would have been on goal and perhaps into the goal had a Luxembourger not just managed to get a leg on the ball.

When “practice, practice” was still recommended in German stadiums, a coach would have said in the situation: “The next one is sitting.” So things remain tough, with Wirtz and with the German national team.