Florian Wirtz faced sharp criticism from the German press following his first international appearance since joining Liverpool, as Germany stumbled to a shock 2-0 defeat against Slovakia in their World Cup qualifying opener.
Wirtz Error Sparks Slovakia Lead
The match took a disastrous turn when a costly mistake from Wirtz contributed directly to Slovakia’s opening goal just before the break. It was Germany’s first-ever away loss in a World Cup qualifier, adding further weight to the backlash.
Schweinsteiger’s Blunt Assessment
German football legend Bastian Schweinsteiger, now a pundit with ARD, didn’t hold back in his post-match analysis. He criticized the team for showing little effort, poor decision-making, and uninspired body language. Star players like Wirtz were singled out for underperforming, with Schweinsteiger remarking that many of the “highly-rated players” simply failed to show up.
Wider Concerns About Team Performance
Other media outlets echoed these concerns, pointing to broader issues within the German squad—namely, disjointed play, a lack of creativity in attack, and vulnerability in defense. Despite having big names like Wirtz in the starting lineup, Germany looked uncoordinated and lacking in urgency.
Leave a Reply