Julian Nagelsmann’s side vulnerable after shock 2-0 defeat in Slovakia, but Michael O’Neill’s men are braced for a backlash
But it was Slovakia who pounced first before Northern Ireland got a chance to test Die Mannschaft, a team in transition under Julian Nagelsmann.
By their own high standards, Germany have been below par in recent months, perhaps even in recent years.
Despite being the host nation, Germany could only reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, losing to Spain after extra-time.
A 7-0 mauling of Bosnia in the Nations League last November papered over draws with Hungary and the Netherlands.
Germany then beat Italy 5-4 in the Nations League quarter-finals before falling at the penultimate hurdle to Portugal, as well as losing the third-place play-off to France.
An astute student of the game, Michael O’Neill was well aware of Germany’s relative deficiencies when he announced his squad for his side’s first two qualifiers last month.
He alluded to it without shouting it from the rooftops, a foolish thing to do when approaching a game in Germany.
“People say, ‘Oh, they’re not the Germany team that we played in the past’, but the Germany team we played in the past were the world champions, so it’s a high bar”, said the successful Northern Ireland manager.
“They’ve got some younger players, they’re maybe going through a transitional phase, but their players still play at the top level of the game.”
Slovakia were equally aware of Germany’s vulnerability and stunned Nagelsmann’s team with a 2-0 victory in Bratislava on Thursday.
Despite dominating possession with 70 per cent of the ball, Germany managed just four shots on target compared to Slovakia’s five.
Two of them – from David Hancko and David Strelec – found the back of the German net and condemned Nagelsmann and Co to a first-ever away defeat in a World Cup qualifier.
The manager lashed his team’s performance and hinted at making sweeping changes for a Northern Ireland game that is crucial for Germany now.
“If we start with very simple things like emotionality, the opponent was simply miles ahead of us. That’s a fact”, said the former Bayern Munich manager.
“And shockingly, on top of that, such an opponent brings more footballing quality to the pitch than we do. If we can’t achieve this emotionality, then we can close the book because quality doesn’t play a role.
“Maybe we just have to rely on less quality and instead on players who give their all because that would have led to a better result [against Slovakia] than if the best players had played. That’s official.”
Will Germany awaken from their stupor tonight? The nation will demand victory to get their hopes back on track, otherwise there could be blood on the changing-room carpet.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill. Photo: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press
“We know there’ll be a reaction from Germany to that result”, added O’Neill. “I’m sure they’ll be under a lot of scrutiny and criticism in their own country. Maybe they are in a weak moment.
“I’ve played against Germany many times when they were world champions.
“I don’t think this team is quite at that level at this minute in time, but they’ll have a reaction to that result and we have to be ready for that.”
O’Neill has every reason to remember Germany and be cautious about pulling the tiger’s tail.
His first glorious term in office that peaked in France at the Euro 2016 finals ended on a bum note when Germany thrashed Northern Ireland 6-1 in Frankfurt in November 2019.
Serge Gnabry scored a hat-trick in that Euro 2020 qualifier that preceded O’Neill’s departure for Stoke City, while Leon Goretzka bagged a brace.
Both players are available to Nagelsmann tonight along with Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade, big-money signings for Liverpool and Newcastle United, respectively.
Northern Ireland used to have a proud record against Germany, or more correctly, West Germany.
Billy Bingham’s Northern Ireland team won both home and away games in Euro ’84 qualifying, with Norman Whiteside scoring a famous winner in Hamburg.
Two 1-1 draws in friendlies followed in the 90s and a famous 1-1 draw in Nuremberg courtesy of a Gerry Taggart goal in a World Cup qualifier continued the good run – but since then it has been one-way traffic with Germany winning all nine encounters.
The last was that 6-1 defeat and it would be a shock to the system if the scoreline is similar tonight in Cologne.
The home side will rightly be strong favourites for tonight’s contest, but this is as good a chance as any to leave Germany with a bloody nose.