Germany Dominates Slovakia in Convincing Victory

Germany aimed to dispel any early jitters, and it was the home team that created the first opportunity just three minutes into the match. Florian Wirtz delivered a cross which Serge Gnabry headed over the bar. Shortly after, Wirtz himself attempted a shot from within the Slovakia box, but it went over. The hosts found their rhythm and took the lead in the 18th minute when in-form Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade scored with a header.

Halfway through the first half, Germany extended their lead to two goals as Gnabry connected with a precisely weighted pass from Leon Goretzka. The match effectively lost its competitive edge ten minutes before the halftime break when Leroy Sane netted Germany’s third goal, receiving an excellent ball over the Slovakia defense from Wirtz. The duo combined once more for Germany’s fourth by seeing Wirtz find Sane at the back post during a dominant opening 45 minutes.

In the second half, the hosts added a fifth goal midway through. Ridle Baku, who replaced captain Kimmich in the 64th minute, scored from close range after being set up by Gnabry, marking his second international goal. Slovakia’s goalkeeper Dubravka did his utmost to maintain a respectable scoreline, notably saving a low drive from Goretzka in the 73rd minute. However, he was unable to stop Assan Ouedraogo’s deflected shot just a minute after the teenager’s introduction, making him the second youngest scorer for the German national team.

Despite facing criticism for inconsistent performances at the club level following his transfer to Liverpool, Florian Wirtz demonstrated his potential, highlighting why the Reds invested significantly in him over the summer. He was a creative dynamo in Leipzig, effectively dismantling the Slovakia defense and forming excellent partnerships with players like Leroy Sane. Liverpool supporters will be eager to see Wirtz replicate this impressive form when domestic competitions resume.

On the other hand, Milan Skriniar, the veteran of the Slovakia defense, had a match to forget. The 30-year-old, who previously played for Inter and PSG, struggled throughout the game and bore responsibility for Leroy Sane’s second goal and Germany’s fourth in a disappointing display.