Following their history-making shock defeat to Slovakia on Thursday, Germany are under pressure to respond as they take on Northern Ireland in Cologne.
Match News and Current Form
Germany had never previously lost a World Cup qualifier (WCQ) on the road, and only their fourth loss in a WCQ fixture anywhere saw them crash to three consecutive international defeats for the first time since September 2023. Returning to German soil would typically be enough to boost belief they could return to winning ways, particularly having won each of their last three WCQ home games, but given it’s now almost ten months since they won any fixture in Germany (D1, L2), this one may not be as cut-and-dry as the odds suggest.
Northern Ireland top the group after beating Luxembourg 3-1 on Thursday, and although head coach Michael O’Neill wasn’t happy with aspects of his side’s performance, it was enough to extend the Green and White Army’s unbeaten run across their last five competitive internationals to five matches (W3, D2). That form is raising hopes of a first World Cup appearance since 1986 but they’ve been inconsistent in WCQ away games, where a mixed record across the last few campaigns (W4, D2, L5), including a 2-0 defeat in Germany in October 2016, doesn’t bode well.
Head-to-Head History
Germany have won the last nine H2Hs, winning the last meeting they hosted 6-1. Northern Ireland haven’t scored more than once in a H2H since October 1960 (W2, D4, L13 overall).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Germany haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last six internationals.
There’s been an average of four goals per game across Germany’s last six home games.
Northern Ireland have scored in each of their last eight internationals.
Northern Ireland have collected fewer than three cards in each of their last nine fixtures (W4, D3, L2).
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Germany may look to Niclas Füllkrug for goals here given that they are unbeaten across his last four goalscoring appearances (W3, D1), all of which came in Germany. Northern Ireland defender Conor Bradley will be busy trying to stop him and his team-mates, but with all three of his international goals coming on foreign soil, he could be a threat at the other end too.
Germany don’t appear to have any new injury concerns. Northern Ireland’s Jamie Reid was forced off in the second half against Luxembourg due to injury so his participation may be unlikely. They were already missing Pierce Charles, Daniel Ballard and Conor Hazard.
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Betting Analysis
Expect a strong reaction from the hosts, but Northern Ireland’s recent form suggests backing Germany to win and both teams to score is worth considering.
Author: John Pennington