Germany Roars Back to Life: 1-0 Win Over Northern Ireland Puts World Cup Hopes on Track

Germany Back on World Cup Track After Win in Belfast In a crucial match for their 2026 World Cup qualification hopes, Germany secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland at Windsor Park in Belfast. The win has propelled the team back onto track, with Julian Nagelsmann's side now sitting comfortably atop Group C. Nick Woltemade scored the decisive goal in the 65th minute, awkwardly sending a corner into the net off the back of his shoulder. This marked his first goal for Germany, and it was a moment of great significance for the player who has made an impressive start to life at Newcastle. Germany's success on set-pieces has been a major factor in their recent resurgence. The team has now scored five goals from corners or free kicks in qualifying, with Mads Buttgereit's tactical changes appearing to have paid off. In contrast, Germany struggled hugely last year, failing to score any goals from set-pieces in both the Qatar and home Euro qualifiers. "We worked hard on our set-piece play, and it's great to see it paying off," said Nagelsmann after the match. "We knew that winning was all that mattered tonight, and I'm proud of the team for their discipline and focus." Germany had come into the match with a professional 3-0 win over Luxembourg at home just three days earlier. Nagelsmann opted to stick with the same starting lineup, which seemed to pay off as they dominated possession and created several scoring opportunities. The result has significant implications for Germany's World Cup qualification hopes. With two matches remaining in Group C, Nagelsmann's side now sits comfortably atop the table, having accumulated 14 points from six games. Germany will next face Liechtenstein at home on October 16, before traveling to Iceland on November 17. The team will be looking to maintain their momentum and secure a top spot in Group C. The win has also sparked renewed optimism among German fans, who had been growing increasingly anxious about the team's prospects after a disappointing start to qualifying. With this result, Germany is now firmly back on track for next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Germany's next match: Liechtenstein at home on October 16 Statistics: Goals scored from set-pieces: 5 (in qualifying) Nick Woltemade's first goal for Germany Mads Buttgereit's tactical changes paying off Germany sitting comfortably atop Group C with 14 points from six games *Reporting by Dw.*