Overview
Germany are preparing for their first international match since their UEFA Nations League defeat at home in June. At that time, they lost 1-2 to Portugal in the semi-finals, then continued to fall 0-2 to France in the third-place match.
Currently ranked 9th in the world by FIFA, coach Julian Nagelsmann's team has only won 12/23 matches (D6, L5) in all competitions. That includes friendlies since Nagelsmann took over in September 2023. Improving solidity in defence will be the 38-year-old strategist's top priority.
In fact, Germany have kept just five clean sheets in their last 16 international games and have conceded two or more goals in all four of their games in 2025. This is an alarming achievement that the team that has won the world championship 4 times must improve if they want to return strongly in the international arena.
In the World Cup qualifiers, Germany is considered the most likely candidate for the top spot in Group A. Although they have secured a place in at least the play-off round thanks to their ranking in the Nations League, if they win the top spot in the group, they will have a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US.
Germany will enter the opening match with a series of 7 consecutive wins in the World Cup qualifiers, along with a positive head-to-head record against Slovakia. They have won three of their last five meetings, including a 4-1 win in Bratislava in October 2006 in the EURO qualifiers.
Slovakia head coach Francesco Calzona is shouldering the task of turning the fate of the country's football scene. He had to end a 4-match winless streak in 2025, starting with a painful extra-time defeat in the UEFA Nations League knockout round.
After winning 13 points in 6 matches in League C - Group 3 in 2024, Slovakia missed the opportunity for promotion last March when they lost 0-1 to Slovenia.
Since then, Slovakia have dropped to 52nd place in the FIFA rankings after 2 consecutive friendly defeats in June. They lost 1-4 away to Greece, then continued to fall 0-1 to Israel in Hungary just 3 days later.
Slovakia have only participated in the World Cup once as an independent country in South Africa in 2010. However, they have reason to confidently aim for an expanded tournament to 48 teams next year, as they are the second highest FIFA-ranked team in Group A, above Northern Ireland and Luxembourg.
Under Calzona, Slovakia have achieved 3 wins, 5 draws and 2 losses in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Entering the match against Germany, they were rated lower, but the possibility of causing a surprise could not be ruled out.
In the last 5 confrontations, Slovakia won 2 matches - 2-0 at home in September 2005 and 3-1 away in May 2016 (all in friendlies).
Personnel situation
Slovakia suffered a significant loss of force before this match. Lukas Haraslin was forced to withdraw due to a groin injury, while defender Denis Vavro was absent due to undergoing muscle surgery last month.
In addition, Samuel Kozlovsky and Dominik Javorcek are also unable to participate due to injury. The duo Ivan Schranz and Laszlo Benes have stomach problems, the possibility of playing is still open and will be assessed right before the match.
Germany also have difficulty in terms of squad as a series of key players are absent due to injury, including Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Sule, Benjamin Henrichs, Tim Kleindienst and Tom Bischof.
In addition, three young faces considered for first call-up, Nathaniel Brown, Max Rosenfelder and Nicolas Kuhn, are also unable to participate due to injury.
Expected lineup:
Slovakia: Dubravka, Pekarik, Skriniar, Gyomber, Hancko, Duda, lobotka, Bero, Schranz, Bozenik, Duris.
Germany: Baumann, Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Raum, Goretzka, Stiller, Adeyemi, Wirtz, Gnabry, Woltemade.
The match between Slovakia and Germany takes place at 1:45 am on September 5 (Vietnam time).
