Overview
- Two wins against Luxembourg on Friday and Slovakia on Monday would secure direct qualification, with Germany topping the group on points alongside Slovakia.
- Captain Joshua Kimmich is out with an ankle capsule injury, Nico Schlotterbeck is unavailable, and Karim Adeyemi is suspended, prompting late changes.
- Oliver Baumann is slated to start in goal behind a back four of Ridle Baku, Jonathan Tah, Waldemar Anton and David Raum, with Aleksandar Pavlovic and Leon Goretzka in midfield.
- The projected front four features Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry and Florian Wirtz supporting striker Nick Woltemade, after Nagelsmann demanded a more threatening final third.
- Wirtz remains goalless for Liverpool but is publicly backed by Woltemade, Malick Thiaw and Nagelsmann, while the coach also leans on a confident Bayern core; Bayern’s women lifted spirits with a 3-2 comeback win over Arsenal.