Overview
- Kickoff is 20:45 in Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena, with coverage on ZDF, sportstudio.de and major live tickers.
- Germany and Slovakia are level on points, Germany holds the better goal difference, and a draw or win secures direct qualification while a loss sends Germany to March play-offs for the first time in 24 years.
- FIFA has appointed French referee François Letexier, supported by an all-French crew including VAR Willy Delajod and AVAR Mathieu Vernice.
- Italy’s 1–4 defeat to Norway is set to drop Italy in the rankings, and a German win is expected to lift Germany into Pot 1 for December’s World Cup draw in Washington, D.C.
- Coach Julian Nagelsmann faces intense scrutiny after uneven displays, with Joshua Kimmich and Nico Schlotterbeck pushing to return from knocks but their starting roles still uncertain.