World Cup Qualification 2026: Germany-Luxembourg, the likely lineups

Friday at 8:45 p.m. at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim, Germany takes on Luxembourg in a key challenge to get back on track in Group A of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. After a surprising defeat in the opener, Nagelsmann’s national team currently sits in second place in the group and needs a win to move closer to the top again. Facing them will be a Luxembourg still stuck on zero points and bottom of the group, with little hope of getting back into the fight for a place at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Nagelsmann must do without two important pawns: Antonio Rüdiger and Jamal Musiala, both unavailable due to injury. In defense, therefore, there is room for Schlotterbeck, while in midfield Pavlovic will lead operations. In attack, Woltemade will be the only forward, supported by Gnabry, Amiri and Wirtz in the three-quarter.

Luxembourg’s Strasser, aware of the technical superiority of the opponents, could opt for a compact set-up with Olesen and Barreiro in the middle of the field, while Sinai, Tomas Cruz and Dardari will act on the line of trequartisti behind the only striker Muratovic, with the aim of breaking away on the counterattack and containing the German attack.

Probable lineups

Germany (4-2-3-1): Baumann; Baku, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Gnabry, Amiri, Wirtz; Woltemade. All. Nagelsmann.

Luxembourg (4-2-3-1): Moris; Jans, Mahmutovic, Carlson, Bohnert; Olesen, Barreiro; Sinai, Tomas Cruz, Dardari; Muratovic. All. Strasser.