Overview
- Germany leads Group A on goal difference with nine points, level with Slovakia, and closes qualifying against Luxembourg on Friday and Slovakia on Monday in Leipzig.
- Julian Nagelsmann confirmed Joshua Kimmich will miss the Luxembourg match, with Jonathan Tah set to wear the captain’s armband.
- First-time call-ups Assan Ouedraogo of RB Leipzig and Said El Mala of 1. FC Köln are in the squad and could debut.
- Two victories would clinch the group and avoid the European playoffs, where even successful qualification would leave Germany in Pot 4 at the finals draw.
- Taking six points would also keep Croatia from overtaking Germany’s 10th-place FIFA ranking, while outcomes in other groups, including Norway’s edge over Italy, influence the final seeding picture.