Match overview for Slovakia against Germany
Germany will launch its qualification trip from the World Cup in 2026 with a trip to Bratislava, where they will face Slovakia in Tehelne Pole on Thursday evening.
The two teams are in group A alongside Northern Ireland and Luxembourg.
Germany, under the supervision of Julian Nagelsmann, seeks to bounce back from a disappointing campaign of the League of Nations on land at home in June, which allowed them to lose against Portugal and France.
Since Nagelsmann took over in September 2023, the team has a record of 12 victories, 6 draws and 5 defeats in 23 games.
A key objective for the manager will be to improve the team’s defense because they have only held five clean sheets in their last 16 international games and have conceded at least two goals in their four games this year.
Despite their recent difficulties, Germany is considered strong favorites to win group A and guarantee automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. They also have a good record in the World Cup qualifiers, after winning their last seven.
Slovakia, led by head coach Francesco Calzona, aims to transform their fortune after a sequence of four games without victory in 2025.
They missed promoting in the Nations League qualifiers and have since lost two friendly games. Ranked 52nd in the world, the Falcons will be considered outsiders against Germany, but they have achieved upheavals in the past, including two victories in their last five games with Germany, although friendly matches.
Team news for Slovakia against Germany
Slovakia will be without Lukas Haraslin, who undergoes an injury to the groin, and Denis Vavro, who recalls an adductor operation. The other players sidelined by an injury include Samuel Kozlovsky and Dominik Javorcek. Ivan Schranz and Laszlo Benes are also doubts with stomach problems.
Germany has a number of missing key players due to an injury, including Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Marc-André Ter Stegen and Nico Schlotterbeck.
Nnamdi Collins and Paul Nebel are both online to make their senior debut after receiving their first calls. Antonio Rudiger returns to the team and could start in defense.
Lignales in Germany Slovakia against Germany
Slovakia: Dubravka; Bakery, Sirriniar, Gyomber, Hanckko; Duda, Lobotka, Bero; Schranz, Bozenik, Duris
Germany: Baumann; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, room; Goretzka, Stiller; Adeyemi, Wirtz, Gnabry; Woltemade
How to watch Slovakia against Germany: television channel, online flow
The match will start at 7.45 p.m. Thursday evening and will be available in the United Kingdom on Amazon Prime.
Statistics for Slovakia against Germany
- In their last five games, Germany has won three, while Slovakia won two
- Their latest confrontation was a 3-0 victory for Germany in the 2016 European Championship
- Falcons are currently on a sequence of four games without victory in 2025.
- Germany has a slightly better record, with two victories, two defeats and two draws in their last six games
- Germany had trouble defending, conceding at least two goals in each of their four games in 2025
Prediction
Given the recent defensive vulnerabilities of the two teams, it is likely that this match will see goals on both sides.
However, the higher quality and depth of the German team should be sufficient to guarantee a victory.
Prediction: Slovakia 1-3 Germany
