German outlets have shared a mixed verdict on Florian Wirtz after Germany’s 4-0 victory over Luxembourg — a result that nearly guarantees their World Cup spot. The £116 million Liverpool midfielder once again showed flashes of his quality but struggled to produce the decisive moments that once defined him.
Since his record-breaking summer switch from Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz has yet to fully adapt to life at Anfield. While he’s displayed moments of creativity, the consistency and cutting edge that earned him back-to-back Bundesliga Player of the Season awards remain missing. With Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Curtis Jones all in better form, the German star’s influence appears to be waning both for club and country.
Against Luxembourg — the kind of opponent tailor-made for a confidence boost — Wirtz put up decent numbers: one big chance created, four key passes, and 88% passing accuracy. Still, he failed to win a single ground duel or complete a dribble, prompting the German media to describe his performance as “bright but frustrating.”
BILD gave him a lowly grade four, commenting that Wirtz “tried to work his magic but luck wasn’t on his side — every shot or pass seemed to find a Luxembourg leg.” The paper did, however, note a promising moment when his free-kick struck the post, calling it “a reminder of his old brilliance.”
Der Spiegel echoed the sentiment, writing: “He drifted wide to escape pressure and showed energy, but often tangled himself in dribbles. He created good openings for Woltemade and Kimmich but wasn’t rewarded. Just like at Liverpool, it’s another case of almost but not enough.”
In short, the consensus across Germany’s press was clear — the talent is still there, but the spark that once made Florian Wirtz unplayable seems to be flickering rather than burning.
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