Overview

• Germany faces Luxembourg on Friday in Sinsheim and Northern Ireland on Monday in Belfast, with the coach setting a two‑win mandate to steady qualifying.
• DFB sporting director Andreas Rettig conceded the Slovakia defeat dented momentum and rankings, warning there is no room for further slip‑ups in the race for direct qualification and a top seeding pot.
• To address long‑running full‑back issues, Ridle Baku has been recalled and newcomer Nathaniel Brown called up, with David Raum positioned as the most experienced option on the left.
• Late adjustments continued: Kevin Schade was added for the injured Jamie Leweling, goalkeeper Noah Atubolu replaced the ill Oliver Baumann, and Nick Woltemade linked up with the squad after a flu bout.
• Joshua Kimmich has been moved back into central midfield with his partner still unsettled, while figures such as Lothar Matthäus and Matthias Sammer urge fewer experiments and greater continuity, including a possible 3‑4‑2‑1 setup.