Anybody seeking confirmation that Florian Wirtz was worthy of a £116m transfer fee would not have found it in Belfast. Instead, it was Nick Woltemade, courtesy of his maiden goal for his country, who endorsed his status as Germany’s man of the moment. It would not be a World Cup without Germany and it surely will not be a World Cup without Germany. They are, however, clearly still a work in progress.
Julian Nagelsmann will enjoy more comfortable evenings on the touchline. For all their technical superiority, Germany failed to properly punish a Northern Ireland team who showed wonderful tenacity and grew in belief as the clock ticked down. The scale of frustration at not claiming a point depicted how much they put into this game.
There was fury from their manager, Michael O’Neill, at what he described as the “ridiculous” allowance of two minutes of stoppage time. Plucky losers? No thanks, with O’Neill reflecting on a “sore” outcome.
Wirtz played on the fringes, which will only intensify chatter about when – or if – he will justify Liverpool’s faith. How the Germans could have done with Wirtz’s influence, having been made to sweat by a young team who refused to grant them an inch.
“I expected this kind of game,” said Nagelsmann. “It is hard to relax in these games.”
The occasion of O’Neill’s 99th match in charge had witnessed one of the team’s finest performances of his two spells as Slovakia were vanquished here on Friday. This raised hopes that Northern Ireland may not need the back door playoff route likely to be afforded them following Nations League progress. The raucous atmosphere was unaffected by the absence of Conor Bradley, who was exceptional in the Slovakia win, but banned for the follow-up.
Nagelsmann had ruffled feathers by labelling Northern Ireland unattractive long-ball merchants after the sides met in Cologne last month. The ex-Bayern Munich coach sort of apologised for his remarks on the eve of this fixture by pointing out they are a very good long-ball team. Nagelsmann insisted he meant no offence. It seemed to be taken anyway.
It felt poetic, then, that in the 14th minute Northern Ireland had the ball in the net after a punt from their own half. The problem was, Paddy McNair had been offside before the stramash that preceded Daniel Ballard firing beyond the stranded Oliver Baumann.
Wirtz started the match on the right side of the attack, duly swapping flanks with Karim Adeyemi. Woltemade, keen to continue his fine touch at Newcastle, played as the focal point
Germany had been building momentum before the simple moment that opened Woltemade’s international account. From David Raum’s inswinging corner, Woltemade found space in an otherwise congested six-yard box to bundle past Bailey Peacock-Farrell with a shoulder. O’Neill had cause to be furious at the lack of pressure placed on the gangly striker. Woltemade will remember the time and place and despite the scrappiness of the goal.
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Northern Ireland should have restored parity before the interval. Jamie Reid fired wildly over the bar after Ethan Galbraith’s trickery. Ali McCann’s half-volley from distance flew only narrowly beyond the upright. Germany passed up an opportunity of their own, Jonathan Tah clumsy with his pass as the unmarked Leon Goretzka waited.
Galbraith’s booking in first-half stoppage-time means he will miss Northern Ireland’s trip to Slovakia next month, another suspension blow for O’Neill.
Adeyemi should have settled matters within two minutes of the restart. The Borussia Dortmund man was sent clean through on goal by Wirtz after the hosts botched a free-kick, but sent his shot beyond the right post. It was an extraordinary miss by one so talented.
Wirtz claimed in vain for a penalty after tumbling theatrically under a Shea Charles challenge. Deployment of the dark arts only emphasised Germany’s lack of comfort. O’Neill had replaced Reid, of Stevenage, with Exeter’s Josh Magennis.
It was endearing, then, to see moments of panic when Northern Ireland flung balls into the penalty area. Galbraith further raised home hope on the hour with a low drive that Baumann scrambled across his goal to save.
Serge Gnabry, who like Wirtz had been peripheral, stung the palms of Peacock-Farrell with 20 minutes to play. Germany needed the leeway of a second goal that subsequently never looked like coming. Callum Marshall almost punished that with an effort on the turn that Baumann held at the second attempt.
In a wonderfully chaotic ending, Germany clung on. Plaudits belonged to those in green.
