Overview
- Germany need at least a draw on Monday in Leipzig to qualify directly, a win would bolster seeding prospects, and a defeat would send them into March play-offs.
- Nagelsmann warned his squad after the Bratislava loss, calling for more tempo, stronger one‑on‑one defending and a markedly different mentality.
- Nick Woltemade enters in scoring form after netting all three of Germany’s last goals across wins in Northern Ireland and Luxembourg.
- Fitness remains a storyline as Joshua Kimmich races to be ready, while Nico Schlotterbeck is reported to be close to a return to the starting XI.
- Slovakia arrive confident after a stoppage‑time win over Northern Ireland and lean on a compact defense led by Stanislav Lobotka and Milan Skriniar, with only two goals conceded in qualifying.