Dominant Germany Book Their Ticket to the World Cup
The German national team delivered a stunning performance to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup, overwhelming Slovakia with a decisive 6-0 victory in their final group match. The four-time world champions, eager to move past their early exits in the last two tournaments, finished top of their qualifying group, three points clear of their opponents.
First-Half Onslaught Seals the Deal
From the opening whistle, Germany displayed relentless attacking intent. The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when an unmarked Nick Woltemade powered a header into the net, marking his fourth consecutive goal in just three matches. The home side's dominance continued as Serge Gnabry latched onto a precision pass from Leon Goretzka to double the lead.
The first-half demolition was far from over. In the 36th minute, Florian Wirtz set up Leroy Sané, who expertly curled his shot past Slovakia's goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. Just five minutes later, the duo combined again, with Sané netting his second goal of the evening to put the game completely out of reach before half-time.
A Night of Celebration and Records
The pace understandably slowed after the break, but Germany's substitutes made their mark. Ridle Baku and teenager Assan Ouédraogo each added a goal to the tally. Ouédraogo's strike was particularly historic, making him, at 19 years old, the youngest player ever to score on his debut for the German national team.
Reflecting on the comprehensive win, goalscorer Nick Woltemade said, "We played a really good game tonight. From the first to the last second we did not allow anything at the back and were creative. I hope it was fun to watch us tonight. It is great to play for Germany. We have now qualified for the World Cup."
Netherlands Cruise to Qualification with Comfortable Win
In a parallel display of strength, the Netherlands confirmed their place at the World Cup finals with a straightforward 4-0 home win against Lithuania. The victory ensured they finished top of Group G, three points ahead of Poland.
The Dutch control was absolute, with the margin of victory potentially being even larger. Tijjani Reijnders gave the Netherlands a 1-0 lead at half-time. After the break, the team unleashed a rapid trio of goals from Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons, and Donyell Malen, putting the result beyond any doubt and sealing their qualification in style.
Elsewhere in World Cup Qualifying
The night also had implications for other nations. Poland, thanks to a late strike from Piotr Zielinski in their 3-2 win away to Malta, secured a spot in next year's playoffs. Robert Lewandowski was also on the scoresheet for the Polish side.
In other results, Northern Ireland ended their Group A campaign with a 1-0 win over Luxembourg, settled by a Jamie Donley penalty. Despite the win, it was a dead-rubber match, with Northern Ireland's playoff place already secured due to their previous Nations League performance.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic, already assured of a playoff spot, dismantled Gibraltar 6-0 in a match where they scored five goals in the first half alone.
