Luxembourg Fall to Germany in 5th FIFA World Cup Qualifier

On Friday 14 November 2025, Luxembourg’s national football team played their fifth FIFA 2026 World Cup qualification match in Group A against Germany in front of 9,214 spectators at the Stade de Luxembourg.

Luxembourg entered the match bottom of group, having lost their first four qualifiers and already being out of contention for progression, whilst Germany arrived in Luxembourg level on nine points with Slovakia at the top.

Compared to the first meeting between the teams in Sinsheim (0-4), the Red Lions’ coaching staff made two changes to the starting line-up, with Olivier Thill and Danel Sinani coming in for Enes Mahmutović and Tomas Moreira.

Luxembourg created the first chance of the match in the third minute, when Kiki Martins broke through on goal, but he was eventually forced away from the ball inside the box by the German defence. Five minutes later, Germany produced the first shot on target: Florian Wirtz tested Anthony Moris from around fourteen metres, with the Luxembourg goalkeeper turning the ball behind for a corner.

In the eleventh minute, Luxembourg replied with an attack down the left. Leandro Barreiro delivered a low cross to the near post, but Danel Sinani’s touch went narrowly wide of Oliver Baumann’s far post. Germany’s second attempt came shortly afterwards, with Waldemar Anton heading straight at Moris from a free-kick.

Luxembourg continued to threaten. Martins set up Sinani again in the sixteenth minute, but the visiting defenders blocked his effort. Two minutes later, Aiman Dardari cut in from the left and curled a low shot just wide of the far post. In the 21st minute, Sinani forced Baumann into another save, this time from distance.

Despite Germany seeing more of the ball, the Red Lions remained solid in the opening 25 minutes. The visitors then created a series of opportunities: first, Serge Gnabry struck wide after Luxembourg failed to fully clear a cross, and soon after Wirtz sent a shot over the bar. From a corner, Sinani nearly scored directly, but Baumann pushed the ball over the crossbar.

Germany’s Leon Goretzka received the first yellow card of the match in the 31st minute for a foul on Barreiro, who required medical attention. In the closing stages of the first half, Moris made two important interventions - punching away a dangerous free-kick from David Raum and later gathering a deflected effort from Wirtz. The teams went into the break at 0-0.

Under heavy rain at the start of the second half, Jeff Strasser introduced Marvin Martins for Florian Bohnert. Germany opened the scoring in the 49th minute: Leroy Sané escaped his marker on the right and squared the ball to Nick Woltemade, who finished from close range for 1-0.

Luxembourg almost equalised two minutes later when Dardari fired low from the edge of the box, but his effort rolled just wide of the far post. Germany’s Jonathan Tah and Luxembourg’s Seid Korac were both booked shortly afterwards. In the 61st minute, Ridle Baku missed a clear chance to extend Germany’s lead, firing over from the edge of the area.

Luxembourg responded with another promising move in the 65th minute. After a low cross from the right, Leandro Barreiro attempted a backheel finish, but the ball went narrowly wide, with Kiki Martins, positioned just behind him, unable to react quickly enough to redirect it. Moments later, Germany doubled their lead: Ridle Baku played a splitting pass into the box and Nick Woltemade lifted the ball over Anthony Moris with a first touch to make it 2-0.

Luxembourg responded with another promising move in the 65th minute. After a low cross from the right, Leandro Barreiro attempted a backheel finish, but the ball went narrowly wide, with Kiki Martins, positioned just behind him, unable to react quickly enough to redirect it. Moments later, Germany doubled their lead: Ridle Baku played a splitting pass into the box and Nick Woltemade lifted the ball over Anthony Moris with a first touch to make it 2-0.

Head coach Jeff Strasser stated: “We can be proud of the team’s performance today. We tried to defend higher, press Germany and cause them problems, and for long stretches it worked. We should have rewarded ourselves with the chances we had in the first half. As in recent games, if you don’t take your opportunities, you are punished immediately, and a small positioning mistake allowed Germany to score. We later had a chance to come back to 1-1, and perhaps some situations could be discussed, but overall the feeling is that the glass remains half full.”

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann commented: “Congratulations to Luxembourg. We started very well and created three good chances, but their high pressing caused us problems and we struggled to play out from the back. We gave the ball away too easily in the first 30 minutes.” He added: “After half an hour we gained more control, and in the second half we scored two very good goals. In the end the win was deserved, but it was harder than we expected.

In the group’s other fixture, Slovakia claimed a 1-0 home victory over Northern Ireland and now sit level with Germany on twelve points ahead of the sixth round of matches. The two teams are set to decide the winner of Group A.

Luxembourg will play their final FIFA 2026 World Cup qualification match away to Northern Ireland on Monday 17 November 2025 at 20:45 at the Clearer Twist National Stadium in Belfast.

Starting lineups:

Luxembourg: Anthony Moris (GK); Laurent Jans (C); Dirk Carlson; Seid Korac; Florian Bohnert; Olivier Thill; Mathias Olesen; Leandro Barreiro; Christopher Martins; Danel Sinani; Aiman Dardari.

Germany: Oliver Baumann (GK); David Raum; Jonathan Tah (C); Waldemar Anton; Ridle Baku; Leon Goretzka; Aleksandr Pavlovic; Serge Gnabry; Florian Wirtz; Leroy Sane; Nick Woltemade.