2nd Defeat Leaves Luxembourg Pointless in FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualification

On Sunday 7 September 2025, Luxembourg’s national men’s football team played their second FIFA 2026 World Cup qualification match against Slovakia in front of 8,487 spectators at the Stade de Luxembourg.

Dirk Carlson moved into central defence to replace Seid Korac, who had been sent off in the match against Northern Ireland, with Florian Bohnert taking Carlson’s place on the left. Edvin Muratovic started in the attacking trio, the only change from Thursday’s line-up. The visitors, meanwhile, kept the same starting eleven that had defeated Germany 2-0.

The opening ten minutes saw both sides probing for openings, Luxembourg focusing their attacks down the left flank and Slovakia pushing forward on the right, but neither managed a shot on goal. In the 11th minute, a low cross from the Slovak right was diverted goalwards by defenders, but Anthony Moris reacted quickly to prevent any danger. Six minutes later, Ondrej Duda released Leo Sauer on the left, but Enes Mahmutovic intercepted and safely passed back to his goalkeeper, though Moris was briefly under pressure.

In the 18th minute, Luxembourg came close to capitalising on a high press, as Muratovic twice tested Slovak goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka, who bravely dived at his feet, sustaining a minor knock in the process. Francesco Calzona’s team continued to press high but failed to create clear opportunities by the midway point of the first half.

The first yellow card of the match came in the 27th minute for Ľubomír Šatka after a late challenge on Leandro Barreiro. Just a minute later, Marvin Jans fouled Sauer on the edge of the box, earning another booking. Duda struck the resulting free-kick directly at Moris.

Luxembourg’s first real chance came in the 31st minute, when Aiman Dardari set up Daniel Sinani inside the penalty area, but Dúbravka made the save. Moments later, Muratovic went down under pressure in the box, but referee Nicholas Walsh of Scotland waved play on. Sinani then struck diagonally from the right edge of the area, only to be denied by the post.

The Red Lions continued to push forward, with Dardari’s cross blocked in the 36th minute. From the ensuing throw-in, Muratovic outmuscled a defender and shot from close range, but Dúbravka gathered at the second attempt. Luxembourg earned two corners shortly afterwards, both taken by Sinani, but neither resulted in a shot on target.

Slovakia responded in the 41st minute, when Dávid Hancko’s cross from the left found David Strelec, but the striker failed to connect cleanly. The first half ended goalless, with chances at both ends but no breakthrough.

At half-time, Slovakia made two substitutions, bringing on Tomas Rigo and Adam Obert for Ľubomír Šatka and Dávid Ďuriš.

In the 48th minute, Luxembourg came closest to taking the lead. Aiman Dardari broke down the left and delivered a low cross into the box for the unmarked Daniel Sinani, whose effort struck the post for the second time in the match.

Seven minutes later, Jeff Strasser’s side launched another counter-attack. Dardari delayed his pass before laying the ball back to Leandro Barreiro, who fired from around 25 metres, but his shot went over the bar. In the 56th minute, Slovakia picked up their second booking of the match. 

Moments later, Tomas Moreira headed in a cross from captain Laurent Jans, only for referee Nicholas Walsh (SCO), with the assistance of his linesman, to signal for offside.

Slovakia responded in the 62nd minute with a corner from Duda that found David Strelec, but the striker’s header again lacked precision and went straight into the hands of Anthony Moris. Luxembourg immediately countered, but Sinani’s cross intended for Muratovic was cleared for a corner. A similar chance followed in the 65th minute when Jans sent in a low ball that Slovak defender Adam Obert almost diverted into his own net.

Three minutes later, Mathias Olesen cleared a dangerous situation at the other end, intercepting Duda before he could connect inside the box. From the ensuing corner, Slovakia captain Milan Škriniar fouled Barreiro and received a yellow card.

In the 70th minute, Strasser made his first substitution, bringing on Yvandro Borges Sanches for Edvin Muratovic to freshen up the attack. The following ten minutes were contested in midfield, with few clear chances. In the 79th minute, Enes Mahmutovic fouled Sauer and was booked.

Luxembourg continued to press and Strasser’s team looked the more active side in the closing minutes. However, in the 90th minute, the unexpected happened: following a shot from Ľubomír Tupta, Tomáš Rigo reacted quickest to the rebound and slotted the ball into the Red Lions’ net from close range.

“I knew that Ljubot was going to shoot, so I ran there intuitively,” Rigo explained after the match. “I knew that the goalkeeper could miss it, or that it would bounce back. I'm glad that it bounced back, and I hit it into the goal.”

Despite five minutes of added time, the hosts were unable to mount a final push, and the match ended in a 1-0 victory for Slovakia. It marked a second defeat for Jeff Strasser’s team, leaving Luxembourg without points after two games in Group A, now led by Francesco Calzona’s side with six points.

“I thanked the players for the match they played. The content of today’s game and the number of chances… To come out of a match like this with no points is more than just bad luck. The gods of football were not on our side today,” Strasser said after the game.

In the group’s other fixture, Germany defeated Northern Ireland 3-1, with both teams level on three points to share second and third place. Luxembourg will play their next qualifier away against Germany on Friday 10 October 2025.

Starting lineups:

Luxembourg: Anthony Moris (GK); Dirk Carlson; Enes Mahmutovic; Laurent Jans (C); Tomas Moreira; Mathias Olesen; Leandro Barreiro; Eldon Dzogovic; Florian Bohnert; Danel Sinani; Edvin Muratovic; Aiman Dardari.

Slovakia: Martin Dúbravka; Ľubomír Šatka; Norbert Gyömbér; Leo Sauer; Ondrej Duda; Milan Škriniar (C); David Strelec; Dávid Hancko; Dávid Ďuriš; Matúš Bero; Stanislav Lobotka.