In Germany's 6-0 victory over Slovakia, Florian Wirtz was the standout player. The 22-year-old midfielder could finally play with the confidence that made his name in the Bundesliga.
Starting from a seemingly harmless situation close to the center circle, Florian Wirtz, after a quick combination with Nick Woltemade, saw today's Leroy Sane's defensive move. His prolific passing style is both soft and accurate, putting Sane in a position where he cannot help but score. Just 5 minutes later, Wirtz himself took the initiative to win the ball in a pressing situation, then crossed for Sane to complete a double.
5 days before joining the German national team, Florian Wirtz experienced 2 emotional moments in England. Against Real Madrid, he played his best match of the season in Liverpool's 1-0 victory. Just a few days later, the 22-year-old star was heavily criticized for his lackluster performance in the 0-3 defeat to Man City.
That story accurately reflects Wirtz's journey at Liverpool when he flourished in the Champions League but lacked sharpness in the Premier League, a tournament that required faster handling and higher strength.
During the first gathering at FIFA Days in November, Julian Nagelsmann spoke in defense of his student, accidentally making the story of Florian Wirtz a hot topic. Nagelsmann believes that Liverpool's current situation is also a factor that makes Wirtz difficult, emphasizing: "Sometimes teammates need to take advantage of the opportunities he creates."
Since the Merseyside Derby in late September, when Florian Wirtz was pushed to the bench, he has hardly had a stable stint. Arne Slot has experimented with his student in many positions such as an attacking midfielder, a left and right striker.
The main left wing is where Florian Wirtz reached his peak under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. That was also the position where he showed his creativity most clearly since joining Liverpool. His opportunity map shows that the hot spot is concentrated in the left-sided central route.
In the match against Luxembourg, Wirtz played well but was not particularly outstanding. On the contrary, against Slovakia, he completely controlled the match in his own way with abundant energy, continuously creating connections and becoming the creative center of the German team.
With both Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala injured, the "number 10" system Nagelsmann prefers to have one player in the right role, so Florian Wirtz has to carry more. He was allowed to stay in the middle of the road but needed time to feel truly familiar.
Julian Nagelsmann once shared about Wirtz's case at Liverpool: "The team is no longer as stable as last season. Therefore, integration is more difficult".
That is the key when a young star is brought in at a big price, to become the "number 10" in Arne Slot's system. Florian Wirtz cannot easily integrate, he must immediately become the center of the team. That is too difficult for a new 22-year-old player and having to change the playing environment to be much harsher.
Despite having difficulty with the Premier League pace, Wirtz's ability to handle one touch and thinking is still very high. Just watch him play for the German national team to see that all passes are quick, compact and accurate, something Wirtz has not found at Liverpool.
Nagelsmann is right, there were times when his teammates could not take advantage of the opportunities created by Florian Wirtz, but this midfielder himself has not really caught up with the new environment. That's normal but top-flight football is not patient.
When the Premier League returns from this weekend, Liverpool will meet 3 bottom teams in the next 4 matches. This is the series of matches in which Florian Wirtz is expected to shine and regain the highest confidence.
