Woltemade scored twice as Germany beat Luxembourg 2-0 away

In the 69th minute, as Luxembourg tried to push forward, a sharp through ball from Ridle Baku split the middle, allowing Nick Woltemade to break through and finish close to goal. The second goal ended a perfect night for Germany at the Stade de Luxembourg: a 2-0 win, keeping top spot in Group A of the 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers and very close to a ticket to the next round.

Deadlocked first half, explosive second half

Germany, ranked 10th in FIFA compared to Luxembourg's 97th, took the initiative and quickly dominated the game. In the 8th minute, Florian Wirtz had a clear chance but his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Morris.

Luxembourg did not sit back and take the blow. Aiman ​​Dardari dribbled and shot wide, before Danel Sinani made a dangerous corner kick in the 31st minute, forcing Oliver Baumann to save. Although Germany had the upper hand and had 6 shots compared to the home team's 4, the first half ended goalless.

After the break, the decisive instructions from the coaching staff helped Germany accelerate significantly. The away team increased their processing speed and exploited the right wing to make a difference.

Woltemade's decisive moment

In the 49th minute, Germany opened the scoring from a quick counter-attack on the right wing. Leroy Sané accelerated, crossed accurately for Nick Woltemade to finish neatly. This was also Sané's first assist in this qualifying round.

The opening goal relieved the pressure, helping Germany to take the initiative and control the ball up to 65%. Luxembourg still tried to create chances, but situations like Dardari's shot were not accurate enough to convert into a goal.

In the 69th minute, Ridle Baku sent a clever through ball, opening up a whole space for Woltemade to run into. The German striker calmly finished to make it 2-0, completing his double and taking his tally in the qualifiers to three. Towards the end of the match, Sané also had a beautiful curling shot that hit the crossbar.

Analyze tempo and strokes

Germany didn’t change much in terms of structure, but the difference came in terms of acceleration and directness after the break. Attacks were shortened, with a priority given to quick transitions to the right flank – where Sané’s pace and crossing ability were effective for the opener. As Luxembourg pressed forward in search of an equaliser, Baku’s through ball into the half-space became the decisive drill for the winner.

Selected statistics

• Score: Luxembourg 0-2 Germany
• Goal scorer: Nick Woltemade 49', 69'
• Assists: Leroy Sané, Ridle Baku
• First half: Germany 6 shots; Luxembourg 4 shots
• Ball control: Germany had up to 65% at times
• Notable situations: 8th minute Wirtz was denied by Morris; 31st minute Sinani caused trouble from a corner; at the end of the match Sané's shot hit the crossbar

Impact on the rankings

The victory helped Germany consolidate their top spot in Group A with 12 points. In the final round, coach Julian Nagelsmann's team only needs a draw against Slovakia to officially qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Match timeline