German Stars in England: Wirtz Struggles, Woltemade Shines

German Players Face Crucial World Cup Qualifiers

Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade, key figures in Germany’s attack, are set to face Luxembourg on Friday evening in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. Both players transferred to England during the summer but have experienced vastly different performances. Their contributions could be pivotal for the German team as they strive to secure a direct ticket to North America for the 2026 World Cup. Following their unexpected 2-0 defeat in Bratislava against Slovakia, the German team must win their last four matches to avoid a challenging playoff in March.

Wirtz’s Challenging Adaptation in Liverpool

Florian Wirtz, hailed as Germany’s most crucial offensive player by coach Julian Nagelsmann, has faced significant challenges since joining Liverpool for a record fee of €125 million. Despite his impressive track record with 33 national team appearances and 8 goals, he is yet to score or provide an assist in ten appearances for the club this season. The lack of opportunities has been one of the main criticisms leveraged by pundits, with former Red Jamie Carragher expressing concerns about Wirtz’s performance.

According to Rudi Völler, Germany’s sporting director, the adaptation issues stem from a change in play style. Unlike at Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz receives fewer deliveries, diminishing his influence on the field. Nonetheless, the German Football Federation (DFB) remains confident about his potential to thrive at Liverpool.

Woltemade Making Waves at Newcastle

In contrast, Nick Woltemade has made an impressive start at Newcastle after transferring for €75 million. His early performances have made fans quickly forget the departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool. As a towering forward standing at 1.98 meters, Woltemade has netted four goals in seven matches and has become only the third Newcastle player to score in his first three Premier League games at St James’ Park, joining club legends like Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer.

Shearer himself praised Woltemade’s composure during a penalty kick, highlighting his potential to become a standout player for Newcastle.

Germany’s Recent Performance in International Matches