Germany against Northern Ireland: liberation? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that!

Won – but how? After a Joker goal of Nadiem Amiri and a free kick from Florian Wirtz, a late national national soccer team Northern Ireland has painstakingly defeated 3: 1 (1: 1). Despite the redeeming double strike in the 69th and 72nd minute, the doubts on the rocky path to the World Cup 2026 have not become much smaller three days after the 0-2 misalignment in Slovakia.

After the lifeless appearance of Bratislava, Julian Nagelsmann managed in his 25th game as a national coach with an eleven changed to five positions, but at most at most damage limitation in Group A.

After all, the substitution of premiere goal scorers Amiri and attacker Maximilian Beier made for the happy ending before 43,169 easier in Cologne after an hour. The duo sparked a lot of momentum on the offensive.

An early goal by Serge Gnabry (7th) gave the fans hope for a relaxed football evening. But after the compensation gate of the limited Northern Irish by Isaac Price (34th), the next disappointment threatened. At the break there were noisy whistles. The World Cup qualification continues on October 10 in Sinsheim against Luxembourg and three days later with the second leg against Northern Ireland in Belfast.

Before the kick-off, Mats Hummels was honored by the German Football Association for his career with 78 international matches in a wonderful late summer weather and given a lot of applause from the fans. The 2014 world champion then took a seat in the stands and, like the other fans, also hoped for “reparation for Thursday”. Nagelsmann was aware of the importance of the game: “We just have to show a different face, for our own claim – and of course also for the fans.”

For this he did not shy away from personnel and tactical changes. Most of the five starting eleven changes affected the defense that wobbled against the Slovaks: Instead of in a chain of four, the DFB team defended with three central defenders, from which Waldemar Anton and Robin Koch were new to the first team. David Raum and Jamie Leweling should provide more speed on the outer lanes on the outer lanes.

However, the offensive, which was also heavily criticized after the Slovakian bankruptcy after the Slovakian bankruptcy, was responsible for the start of the start: after a won duel from Nick Woltemade, Gnabry switched off at lightning speed and ran up and away from his opponent. In front of Northern Ireland’s goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, the Bayern professional kept their nerves and scored the 1-0 with a lupfer. It was his first international goal for more than two years – at that time Gnabry had also been successful in the Cologne stadium against Belgium.

Just a few minutes later, it became dangerous again after a speed attack, this time Gnabry fit on Woltemade. The ex-Stuttgart team, which was switched to Newcastle United for up to 90 million euros, changed the ball in the penalty area instead of looking for direct completion.

The leadership initially gave the German team stability, but then Joshua Kimmich and Co. suddenly switched to administrative mode. The passivity was punished – also because Antonio Rüdiger failed again. Real Madrid’s professional first collected his second yellow card in qualification after a foul and is closed in the next game against Luxembourg in October. Then Rüdiger caused the corner kick, which led to compensation. However, Gnabry also had his shares in the goal, and he had goal scorer Price completely out of sight in the standard situation. Goalkeeper Oliver Baumann was powerless in the volley shot from nearby.

The equalization was a clear goal of activity. The players could no longer shake off this setback before changing sides. The fact that the spectators sent them to the cabin after the half -time whistle with a whistle concert was aggravated.

Initially, even initially the second half, Germany happened against the world ranking 71. difficult. It took up to the 58th minute before Leweling’s long -distance shot gave a good chance – significantly after a successful individual campaign.

But it looked like a wake -up call, the intensity required by Nagelsmann was suddenly felt again. Anton’s crossbar after a header also gave the team new swing (63.). Amiri rewarded the effort to 2-1 after a flank of space. Then Wirtz also had a brilliant moment with his free kick goal.