Match preview: Germany vs Northern Ireland, 1:45 AM, September 8th: "The German tank" has no room for retreat.

Germany vs Northern Ireland form

Placed in a group with Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg, Germany was highly rated to secure the top spot and the only direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup. However, Die Mannschaft put themselves in a difficult position right after the opening match of Group A.

Traveling to Bratislava with high confidence, coach Julian Nagelsmann's team was expected to secure all three points against Slovakia's most dangerous opponent. However, defensive errors and poor finishing meant Florian Wirtz and his teammates left empty-handed, extending their losing streak to three matches.

Coach Nagelsmann's personnel changes proved ineffective and even resulted in Germany playing less efficiently. The team, currently ranked 9th in the FIFA rankings, appeared vulnerable in defense, while their attacking play lacked fluidity.

Looking at the current squad and Die Mannschaft's performances, fans probably have more to worry about. After two years in the hot seat following his predecessor Hansi Flick, Nagelsmann still seems to be struggling to find his ideal team structure.

But some sympathy is also needed for the strategist born in 1987 because he currently doesn't have many options at his disposal. German football has faced numerous problems over the past decade, most notably the noticeable decline in the quality of youth development.

Nagelsmann himself was visibly angry after his players' performance following the defeat in Slovakia. Therefore, it would not be surprising if the former Bayern Munich coach continued to make some changes to the starting lineup, giving opportunities to lesser-known but more ambitious players.

The disastrous defeat means Germany may have to win all five remaining matches if they want to determine their own fate. The match against Northern Ireland will be a great opportunity for Die Mannschaft to redeem themselves and prove their strength as the top contender in Group A.

For their part, Northern Ireland are gaining confidence thanks to a successful start. Michael O'Neill's team easily defeated Luxembourg 3-1. However, a victory against a seemingly weak opponent doesn't necessarily mean much in terms of their ambitions to qualify for the biggest football tournament on the planet.

Northern Ireland needs more than just positive results against stronger opponents like Germany or Slovakia. However, traveling to Cologne presents too great a challenge for Connor Bradley and his teammates. It's worth remembering that in the last nine encounters between the two sides, Northern Ireland has lost every time.

Information on the Germany vs Northern Ireland squad

Germany: Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Deniz Undav, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Nico Schlotterbeck are absent due to injury.

Northern Ireland: The injury list is quite long, including: Paul Smyth, Pierce Charles, Daniel Ballard, Brodie Spencer, Ciaron Brown, and Conor Hazard.

Predicted lineups for Germany vs Northern Ireland

Germany: Baumann; Raum, Tah, Rudiger, Mittelstadt; Kimmich, Gross; Adeyemi, Wirtz, Gnabry; Woltemade

Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell; McConville, McNair, Hume; Bradley, McCann, S. Charles, Devenny; Galbraith, Price; Reid

Prediction: 2-0

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/nhan-dinh-tran-dau-duc-vs-bac-ireland-1h45-ngay-89-co-xe-tang-khong-con-duong-lui-166529.html