Germany 6-0 Slovakia: Sane scores a brace, Wirtz provides two assists.
Germany led 4-0 after 41 minutes at the Red Bull Arena, controlling the game with 69% possession and an xG of 3.29; they defeated Slovakia 6-0 to officially secure their place in the 2026 World Cup as group A winners.
Germany defeated Slovakia 6-0 at the Red Bull Arena, officially securing their place in the 2026 World Cup as group A winners. Leroy Sane scored a brace in five minutes, Florian Wirtz provided two assists, and the home side finished the first half with a 4-0 lead and a dominant performance in terms of both ball control and chances.
The decisive moment: Wirtz and Sane sealed the deal early.
Germany established a one-sided dominance from the start. In the 18th minute, Joshua Kimmich delivered a precise cross for Nick Woltemade to head home from close range, opening the scoring. Then, in the 29th minute, Leon Goretzka tore through the Slovakian defense with a through pass, setting up Serge Gnabry for a one-on-one finish to make it 2-0.
The most explosive moments came between the 36th and 41st minutes: Sane scored two consecutive goals after assists from Wirtz. For the third goal, Sane beat the offside trap and shot diagonally into the net; the fourth came after Woltemade's fierce challenge, the ball reaching Wirtz's feet before Sane tapped it in from close range.
The story unfolds according to the flow of emotions.
Germany finished the first 45 minutes highly effective: 4-0, 69% possession, 92% passing accuracy, 11 shots all inside the penalty area, and an xG of 3.29 (Slovakia only achieved 0.36). The first half almost extinguished any hope for the visitors, who were now only relying on a playoff spot.
After the break, Germany made substitutions: Felix Nmecha came on for Pavlovic; for Slovakia, Satka and Schranz replaced Duda and Gyomber. In the 49th minute, the home team were awarded an indirect free kick inside the penalty area after goalkeeper Dubravka fumbled a back pass, but Sane was unable to capitalize in a densely packed defensive formation.
Germany slowed the pace but maintained control, scoring their fifth goal in the 67th minute: Woltemade combined with Gnabry before Ridle Baku – who had just come on as a substitute for Kimmich – finished decisively. Substitutions continued (Malick Thiaw and Nathaniel Brown for Germany; Bobcek replaced Strelec for Slovakia) and in the 79th minute, Assan Ouedraogo sealed the 6-0 victory.
Tactical perspective: Control tempo, through passes, and Wirtz's explosive moments.
The performance was marked by discipline and speed. Germany imposed their tempo from the second line: a wing-back move along the Kimmich-Woltemade axis opened the scoring, followed by Goretzka's through ball that set up Gnabry. With Slovakia's defense dropping deep, Wirtz became the focal point in the final third with two consecutive assists, while Sane punished the space behind him by beating the offside trap and cutting across the face of goal.
After the break, Germany shifted to a more cautious approach, prioritizing maintaining their structure and experimenting with personnel, but still maintaining enough sharpness to increase their lead, before sealing the victory with a goal from Ouedraogo.
The numbers speak for themselves.
| Index | Value |
|---|---|
| Score | Germany 6-0 Slovakia |
| Ball control (throughout the match) | Germany 69% |
| Accurate passing | Germany 92% |
| Number of shots | Germany 11 (all in the penalty area) |
| xG | Germany 3.29 – Slovakia 0.36 |
| Control the ball in the second half. | Germany 75% |
Impact on the race
The 6-star victory officially secured Julian Nagelsmann's team a place in the 2026 World Cup as group A winners. Slovakia suffered a heavy defeat, and their only hope now lies in competing for a play-off spot.
Notable situations
- 18': Kimmich delivers a perfect cross, Woltemade heads the ball in to make it 1-0.
- 29': Goretzka plays a through ball, Gnabry is one-on-one, 2-0.
- 36' and 41': Sane scores a brace after two assists from Wirtz, making it 4-0.
- 49': Germany takes an indirect free kick inside the penalty area after a goalkeeping error from Dubravka's back pass; Sane fails to score.
- 67': Woltemade and Gnabry combine, Baku finishes to make it 5-0.
- 79': Ouedraogo seals the 6-0 victory.
Final score: Germany 6-0 Slovakia
Scored: Woltemade 18', Gnabry 29', Sane 36' 41', Baku 67', Ouedraogo 79'.
