Woltemade double pack prevents embarrassment: “No gift”

World Cup QualificationWoltemade double pack prevents embarrassment: “No gift”

November 14, 2025 around 22:40 O’clock

Injured leader Joshua Kimmich rushed onto the pitch in front of coach Julian Nagelsmann, pumping his fists in an aggressive expression and excitedly high-fiving his teammates. However, the journey to the World Cup remains an ordeal for the national team and its fans. Without captain Kimmich, the DFB side only avoided embarrassment against Luxembourg after an unassailable first half thanks to Nick Woltemade’s double packer.

“We have the three points, that’s what matters in the end,” said Nagelsmann on RTL: “Football is a sport of results. However, it was much more difficult than expected.”

Center forward Woltemade (49th/69th minute) redeemed the DFB team, which had been hit by many failures and disappointed in every way, at the Stade de Luxembourg, which was sold out by a crowd of 9,214, with his goal for a good mandatory 2-0 (0-0) win against a useless, but passionately playing outsider. “To be honest, I don’t really care how: the main thing is that we win the game. I know it’s not a gift, but we’re stuck in it,” Woltemade said on RTL.

Good news: a draw on Monday is enough

Nagelsmann’s once loudly proclaimed title target is unrealistic seven months before the start of the World Cup after a dispiriting and uninspiring performance against the world number 97.

For the first time under Nagelsmann as national coach, there were four wins and three matches without conceding a goal in a row in the statistics. But the success achieved does not give any hope for a brilliant summer World Cup. At the premiere of the new World Cup jerseys, reminiscent of the 1990 victory, nothing came of it.

The only good news after a miserable night of football in the Grand Duchy: A draw against Slovakia in Leipzig on Monday was enough to retain first place in Group A and book a direct ticket to the finals in the US, Mexico and Canada. “I have never spoken to a team that just wants to get one point. We are trying to win. We have to play better than today, then we can be successful,” stressed Nagelsmann.

If they suffer another defeat against Slovakia, as happened 0-2 in the first leg in Bratislava, the four-time world champions will have to win another thrilling playoff match after 24 years to avoid a first World Cup qualifying failure. Slovakia won 1-0 against Northern Ireland in line with the German match.

Things didn’t start well

Personnel concern or not, a performance like that doesn’t give you any hope for the World Cup. Jonathan Tah, as stand-in captain, had to make a save after just 180 seconds against a surprisingly confident Luxembourg side. In contrast, the German team was slack and too sluggish. There is no trace of other mood enhancers.

11th minute: Danel Sinani from FC St. Pauli failed to score Germany’s goal. And the attackers from table 16. Bundesliga continued to try: Tah blocked once (16), then Oliver Baumann parried (21), among which Aiman ​​​​Dardari from FC Augsburg scored past the German goal.

Wirtz with two tries – too weak

Determination, penetrating power, will – Luxembourg showed the way and repeatedly put the DFB team in serious trouble. After two or three good scenes at the start, there was little to see from Sané, for whom Nagelsmann had clearly announced a trial period. Florian Wirtz also performed less convincingly in two strokes (9 and 18).

And the longer it went on, the more the audience rubbed their eyes in amazement. After half an hour, Luxembourg even called for a penalty. After a corner kick, Ridle Baku made a save. The ball flew from Leipzig to the head of Bayern’s Leon Goretzka and from there it seemed to barely touch his hand.

Questions about attitude?

Here is the world number 97, whose coach Jeff Strasser smiled with satisfaction and satisfaction when the half-time whistle blew. There was the four-time world champion, whose coach Nagelsmann complained on the sidelines and went straight into the dressing room after half-time.

It’s not just about winning, but also the way they want to win, Kimmich stressed before the match. Also a matter of mentality. But someone who could inspire the team was missing from the field. Sané and Wirtz were unable to take part in attack, Tah had more to do with Luxembourg than expected in defence.

After the break everyone is on probation

Nagelsmann’s alternative on the bench is also quite manageable – at least in terms of experience. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Jonathan Burkardt has the most appearances with five internationals leading up to the game in Luxembourg. The players still talk to each other in the catacombs; Nagelsmann has been sitting in the coaching chair again for a long time in the rain in Luxembourg. He didn’t make any changes at first.

Now everyone is playing probation. So there was tremendous excitement when the ball entered the home team’s goal. Finally a quick and good move. The ball landed for Sané through Aleksandar Pavlović and he directed the ball to Woltemade from the right.

Double Woltemade

Disappointment struck less than two minutes later. Augsburg’s Dardari failed to equalize by several centimeters. And because Goretzka was also close to a yellow-red card, Nagelsmann sent off the Bayern professional and brought on Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha.

At least at times the German team looked a little more confident with the advantage behind them, but they were also lucky that Christopher Martins did not put the ball into the German goal from three meters. Not long after, Woltemade scored for the second time, and again thanks to Sané’s preparation, in what Nagelsmann described as a “good game”. And now even Kimmich is laughing again on the bench. Embarrassment can be prevented, but there is not much that can be done.