Overview

• Germany beat Northern Ireland 3-1 in Cologne in World Cup qualifying, easing immediate pressure after the 0-2 defeat in Slovakia.
• Serge Gnabry struck early before Isaac Price leveled, and boos greeted the interval as the hosts struggled to impose themselves.
• Julian Nagelsmann sent on Maximilian Beier and Nadiem Amiri on 61 minutes, Amiri scored his first international goal on 69 and won the foul that preceded Florian Wirtz’s decisive free-kick on 72.
• Northern Ireland coach Michael O’Neill argued the foul called by referee Espen Eskås “was not a free-kick” and criticized what he viewed as overly strict second-half officiating.
• Beier’s opportunity arose after injuries to Niclas Füllkrug and Tim Kleindienst and the absence of Kai Havertz, underscoring thin attacking depth before October qualifiers against Luxembourg and the return fixture in Northern Ireland.