Germany’s hopes of making it to the 2026 World Cup took a very serious blow. Their qualifying campaign got off to a horrific start with a 2-0 home defeat against Slovakia. Germany’s loss was their third consecutive defeat. This comes on the heels of their Nations League semifinal and final losses to Portugal and France respectively earlier this year. This result underlines a worrying trend for the German national team. It is their first ever away defeat in a World Cup qualifier.
The game was played in Slovakia, where the hosts would soon go the other way and score against the run of play. David Hanchko got Slovakia’s first goal in the 42nd minute, taking advantage of a defensive error from Germany’s Florian Wirtz. Hanchko jumped all over Wirtz’s error in a flash. He then countered quickly and capped off the attack with a pinpoint shot into the back of the goal.
Germany looked off the pace in the opening period but looked to up the ante after the interval. Leon Goretzka came close to levelling the game with a long-range effort. It was then Slovakia’s David Strelec who found the net again, scoring in the 55th minute. Strelec expertly danced around defender Antonio Rudiger before putting a shot out of the reach of goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
Germany’s coach Julian Nagelsmann expressed his disappointment following the match, acknowledging that his team’s performance lacked the necessary emotional intensity.
“We did not show any emotionality in our game today. In terms of emotions, the opponents were miles ahead of us.” – Julian Nagelsmann
Most importantly, he stressed that through this process they have attracted to Germany the very best talents. Yet surrounding ourselves with players who are loyal, dedicated, and determined is the most important element.
“I trust my team, but they have to understand that simply being a better player than the opponent is not enough if you don’t show willingness and desire. You won’t get results with the handbrake on.” – Julian Nagelsmann
This loss is most concerning for Germany. They are motivated to bounce back from their first round knockouts in both the last two World Cups. Since their last victory in 2014 the national team has failed to leave a mark on major international tournaments. Their ambitions are sky-high ahead of the 2026 World Cup. After a recent spate of losses, questions linger about their preparation and intensity.
Looking forward, Germany will welcome Northern Ireland for their next qualifying game, and Slovakia will visit Luxembourg. The journey ahead is key for both sides. They are hungry to make their marks and earn the chances to play on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
