COLOGNE, Germany – A stunning free-kick from Florian Wirtz helped Germany overcome a sluggish performance to beat Northern Ireland 3-1 in World Cup qualifying in Cologne on Sept 7.
In Turkey, meanwhile, Mikel Merino struck a hat-trick as Spain hammered the hosts 6-0 to take charge of their qualifying group.
Germany came into the match under pressure after a shock 2-0 loss to Slovakia in their opening qualifier on Sept 4, with coach Julian Nagelsmann making five changes to his starting XI.
Serge Gnabry got the hosts off to a strong start seven minutes in, but the Germans were pegged back midway through the first half when Isaac Price hammered home from a corner.
Germany lacked pace, fluidity and ideas in the opening period, leaving the field at half-time to isolated boos and whistles.
Nagelsmann was swiftly rewarded for bringing on the energetic Maximilian Beier and Nadiem Amiri early in the second half.
The duo combined for Germany’s second, as Beier’s run for a David Raum long ball confused Northern Irish goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, allowing Amiri to score.
Three minutes later, Wirtz stepped up to take a free-kick after Amiri was fouled and unleashed a perfect shot which sailed over the wall and in off the crossbar.
“We knew it was a catastrophe last game and we wanted to do things better,” Wirtz told Germany’s RTL network.
“It was a good performance we can definitely build on.”
The flat nature of the victory is unlikely to quieten too many of Germany’s detractors, particularly coming against a side fielding just four players from top-flight European clubs in their starting XI.
Fresh off a first ever away loss in a World Cup qualifer, Nagelsmann called on his team to show emotion before the Sept 7 match, saying the four-time world champions were “miles away” from where they needed to be.
Gnabry helped Germany briefly cut through the nervous energy when he gave them an early lead.
Northern Ireland failed to deal with a long ball which was intercepted by Nick Woltemade, who found Gnabry running through on goal.
The Bayern Munich forward controlled the pass and chipped Peacock-Farrell.
Germany’s Serge Gnabry scores past Northern Ireland goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
PHOTO: EPA
But Germany sat back after taking the lead, letting Northern Ireland back into the game and allowing them to equalise with 34 minutes played.
Price shed his marker in Gnabry and volleyed in a corner completely unmarked at the far post.
Nagelsmann’s two changes just after the hour mark would prove crucial, with Beier and Amiri giving the hosts direction and energy before combining for a goal eight minutes later.
“I was very motivated today because we needed to set things right after the last game,” Amiri said.
Germany’s Nadiem Amiri scores their second goal past Northern Ireland’s Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Having faced criticism over a slow start at new club Liverpool, Wirtz showed real emotion in his celebration after curling home his excellent free-kick.
“It’s another league, another type of football. I’m happy to be there,” Wirtz said of his first experiences in the Premier League.
“I have no idea when I’ll score my first goal, hopefully in the next game, but it will come at some point.”
Wirtz’s strike helped end a run of three straight defeats for Germany, while allaying early fears they could miss out on the World Cup for the first time since not being allowed to enter in 1950.
In Konya, Turkey, Spain’s Merino struck a hat-trick, Pedri Gonzalez netted twice and Ferran Torres also on target as Luis de la Fuente’s side topped Group E with their second victory from their opening two matches.
After a comfortable 3-0 win in Bulgaria on Sept 4 the coach pledged his Euro 2024-winning team had an even higher level to reach and they proved that in Konya.
“We knew we had to come out strongly from the start and that’s what we did, dominating,” said Pedri.
“I think the team was able to keep that intensity through to the end of the game and the result reflects that.”
Some billed the match as a battle between Barcelona and Spain starlet Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid and Turkey playmaker Arda Guler, but the gulf in class between the sides did not allow for any reasonable comparison.
Pedri broke the deadlock in the sixth minute with a fine finish from the edge of the box as Spain made a quick start.
Spain’s Pedri (centre) scores their first goal against Turkey.
PHOTO: EPA
Arsenal’s Merino netted the first of his treble by blasting home at the end of a superb team move as Spain shredded Turkey’s defence with quick, incisive passing.
At the other end Guler set up Kerem Akturkoglu, who hit the post, but was later shown to be offside.
Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams was taken off before the break with an apparent thigh injury in the only negative note for Spain.
Merino netted his second in first-half stoppage time after being teed up by Mikel Oyarzabal, who produced a hat-trick of assists.
Spain’s Mikel Merino celebrates scoring their fifth goal.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Electric 18-year-old Yamal played in Barcelona team-mate Torres for Spain’s fourth in the 53rd minute and then laid the ball off for Merino to curl home from distance for his treble.
“I’m very happy for winning, to pick up six points, for doing it in this way, and for scoring three goals, which is not normal – the first hat-trick of my career,” said Merino.
Yamal had good opportunities to score himself but blazed over and squeezed a shot narrowly wide.
With Turkey six goals down, tempers frayed – the frustrated Guler shoved a grinning Yamal as the pair squared off.
De la Fuente took off Yamal soon after as Spain saw out their emphatic victory without further incident.
The coach brought on Rayo Vallecano winger Jorge de Frutos in the final 20 minutes for his international debut.
Spain sent an early warning that they intend to arrive at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico as favourites.
La Roja, who won the tournament for the only time in 2010, have six points, with Georgia and Turkey on three each. Bulgaria are bottom with zero. AFP