Luxembourg 0-2 Germany: Report, result, goals as Woltemade double edges visitors closer to automatic 2026 World Cup qualification
Germany beat Luxembourg in World Cup qualifying
Nick Woltemade scored twice as Germany overcame an unconvincing performance against Luxembourg to close in on automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Newcastle striker Woltemade prodded in Leroy Sane’s cross in the 49th minute and finished from Ridle Baku’s pass as part of a counter-attack 20 minutes later, ensuring Die Mannschaft will advance to the finals if they avoid defeat at home to Slovakia on Monday.
Woltemade, 23, has scored in successive internationals, having netted the only goal away to Northern Ireland in qualifying on October 13.
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Luxembourg vs Germany: Woltemade goals give relief
Luxembourg are yet to take a point in the campaign but the side ranked 87 places below Germany in the world might have scored more than once.
After Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz’s early shot was turned behind by home goalkeeper Anthony Moris, Danel Sinani – a winger in the Bundesliga for St Pauli – spurned an excellent chance in front of goal to give the minnows a shock lead.
Teammate Aiman Dardari sent a shot just wide and Sinani’s strike was pushed behind by Oliver Baumann, who also tipped a Sinani cross over the crossbar as part of an uncertain first half for Germany.
Julian Nagelsmann’s players now face another potentially nervy night when Slovakia, who are behind the group leaders on goal difference, visit Leipzig.
2026 World Cup playoffs dates
The top team from each of the 12 European Qualifier groups proceeds automatically to the finals, which will be expanded to 48 teams.
The 12 runners-up in each group will join four Nations League teams in the play-offs, which will be drawn from pots based on teams’ records during the campaign and take place on March 26 and 31 2026.
The games will comprise single-leg semi-finals and finals, with the draw for the World Cup finals taking place on December 5. The tournament runs from June 11 until July 19 2026.
Luxembourg lineup vs Germany
Luxembourg centre-back Enes Mahmutovic had an abdominal injury but left-back Dirk Carlson returned from suspension, having been dismissed after 20 minutes in the first fixture between the teams.
Attacking midfielder Yvandro Borges was not signed off as fit by his Dutch club, Heracles Amelo, and left-back Mica Pinto and midfielder Vincent Thill were injured.
Adulai Djabi Embalo, a 20-year-old forward for Italian second-tier side Virtus Entella, has been called up for the first time after representing his country at under-21 level.
Luxembourg starting XI: Anthony Moris, Seid Korac, Florian Bohnert, Aiman Dardari, Christopher Martins, Danel Sinani, Dirk Carlson, Olivier Thill, Leandro Barreiro, Laurent Jans, Mathias Olesen, Tiago Pereira
Luxembourg substitutes: Lucas Fox, Adulai Djabi Embalo, Alessio Curci, Tomas Moreira, Kenan Avdusinovic, Edvin Muratovic, Eric Veiga, Vahid Selimovic, Eldin Dzogovic, Sebastien Thill, Marvin Martins
Germany lineup vs Luxembourg
Germany suffered a major blow on the eve of the game with Joshua Kimmich suffering an ankle injury in training but the captain was on the bench.
Germany starting XI: Oliver Baumann, Waldemar Anton, Jonathan Tah, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Leon Goretzka, Nick Woltemade, Florian Wirtz, Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, David Raum, Ridle Baku
Germany substitutes: Alexander Nubel, Finn Dahmen, Malick Thiaw, Joshua Kimmich, Jamie Leweling, Assan Ouedraogo, Jonathan Burkardt, Felix Nmecha, Said El Mala, Nico Schlotterbeck, Kevin Schade, Nathaniel Brown
Luxembourg squad vs Germany, Northern Ireland
Goalkeepers: Lucas Fox (Bocholt), Anthony Moris (Al-Khaleej), Tiago Pereira (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Defenders: Florian Bohnert (Bastia), Dirk Carlson (St. Polten), Eldin Dzogovic (Magdeburg). Laurent Jans (Beveren), Seid Korac (Venezia), Marvin Martins (Winterthur), Vahid Selimovic (Hermannstadt), Eric Veiga (Flamurtari)
Midfielders: Leandro Barreiro, Tomas Cruz (both Benfica), Aiman Dardari (Augsburg), Christopher Martins (Spartak Moscou), Mirza Mustafic (Bali United), Mathias Olesen (Greuther Furth), Olivier Thill (IMT Belgrade), Sebastien Thill (Stal Rzeszow)
Forwards: Kenan Avdusinovic (Progres Niederkorn), Alessio Curci (Neftchi), Adulai Djabi Embalo (Virtus Entella), Edvin Muratovic (Odra Opole), Danel Sinani (St Pauli)
Germany squad vs Luxembourg, Slovakia
Goalkeepers: Noah Atubolu (Freiburg), Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Alexander Nuebel (Stuttgart)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck (both Dortmund), Ridle Baku (Leipzig), Nathaniel Brown (Frankfurt), David Raum (Leipzig), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle)
Midfielders: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic (all Bayern), Felix Nmecha (Dortmund)
Forwards: Karim Adeyemi (Dortmund), Jonathan Burkardt (Frankfurt), Said El Mala (Koln), Serge Gnabry (Bayern), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Kevin Schade (Brentford), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle)
Germany football team World Cup qualifying fixtures, results
September 4: Slovakia 2-0 Germany
September 7: Germany 3-1 Northern Ireland
October 10: Germany 4-0 Luxembourg
October 13: Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany
November 14: Luxembourg 0-2 Germany
November 17: Germany vs Slovakia (19:45 GMT)