Germany Dominates Slovakia with 6-0 Victory, Securing World Cup Spot

Germany produced an outstanding performance under the leadership of Julian Nagelsmann on Monday evening, delivering a staggering 6-0 defeat to Slovakia at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig. This dominant display ensured that Germany topped Group A in the World Cup qualifying campaign, securing a direct entry to the tournament next year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The victory followed a less convincing 2-0 win over Luxembourg the previous week, placing pressure on Nagelsmann and his team to conclude their qualifying campaign on a high note against a Slovakian side that had previously shocked Germany with a 2-0 victory in their opening game in September. However, the four-time world champions responded with a performance that was nothing short of impressive.

In-form striker Nick Woltemade opened the scoring in the 18th minute, followed by Serge Gnabry who doubled the lead just 11 minutes later. Leroy Sane, whose future in international football had been a topic of discussion, silenced critics with a brace, netting goals in the 36th and 41st minutes.

Germany eased off in the second half, yet remained too formidable for the astonished Slovaks. Substitutes Ridle Baku and Assan Ouedraogo added the fifth and sixth goals for Germany, respectively, with Ouedraogo making history as the second-youngest player to score on debut for Germany at just 19 years and 192 days old.

Nico Schlotterbeck returned to the starting lineup against Slovakia after missing the Luxembourg match due to a minor injury, playing 62 minutes. Following the game, the Borussia Dortmund defender issued a strong statement regarding the team’s potential ahead of the World Cup:

“If we play like we did today, we are a very good team. And if the players who can help us but are currently injured come back, I believe we can have a very strong World Cup. The first step has been taken – and at the World Cup, the next steps will follow,” Schlotterbeck stated.

He added, “If we perform at the World Cup like we did at the Euros last year – with a bit more luck and slightly better performances – we can really make an impact. If we play like we did today, it doesn’t matter whether we’re facing the 46th-ranked team or the top-ranked team. We can beat any opponent. We are still Germany. We aim to achieve greatness. I want to go to the World Cup to win it.”

Throughout the qualifying campaign, Germany has been without several key players, including Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Antonio Rudiger, Jamal Musiala, and Kai Havertz, all sidelined due to injuries since the season’s outset. Furthermore, the national team is undergoing a significant transition following the 2024 European Championship, with veterans Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos, and Manuel Neuer having retired from international duty. Despite this, rumors persist about Neuer’s potential return to the squad.

Should the aforementioned players recover in time for next summer’s World Cup, Germany could field a remarkably strong team, characterized by impressive depth. Talented individuals such as Florian Wirtz, Jonathan Tah, David Raum, Nico Schlotterbeck, Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Serge Gnabry, Nick Woltemade, Karim Adeyemi, Niklas Sule, and Maximilian Mittelstadt are now regular fixtures under Nagelsmann, while emerging talents like Said El Mala, Ouedraogo, and Baku complement their inexperience with raw talent.

While Schlotterbeck has firmly established himself as a key player for Germany, his future at club level is also under scrutiny. With his contract set to expire in June 2027, Borussia Dortmund is eager to secure a long-term commitment from their star center-back at Signal Iduna Park.

However, Schlotterbeck is in no rush to make decisions regarding his future, stating, “But it won’t be so early that I extend my contract. We’ll have talks now. I’ll sit down with Sebastian Kehl, make a plan, and then we’ll see what comes of it,” he revealed in September.

Various clubs, including Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid, have been linked with potential moves for Schlotterbeck in the upcoming summer transfer window.