By Michael Kryschak[@michaelkryschak](https://www.twitter.com/michaelkryschak)
Germany’s matchwinner Nick Woltemade, whose two goals secured the hard-fought 2-0 victory in Luxembourg, reflected after the match on an evening that demanded resilience more than brilliance.
Nick Woltemade for Germany.
Photo: Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images.
Woltemade was candid about Germany’s sluggish start, admitting that the first-half performance fell well below expectations. _**“The way we played in the first half wasn’t good. Too little intensity, little pressure, little joy in our play,”**_ he said.
The team, however, managed to shift gears after the break. _**“We were able to change that in the second half, scored goals at the important moments, and that’s what matters in the end. It wasn’t a feast for the eyes, but I don’t really care about that right now – the most important thing is that we win games like this.”**_
Despite the final scoreline, Woltemade felt Germany could have created even more breathing room. _**“We could have won the game by a bigger margin if we had finished our chances better,”**_ he noted, adding that the team is satisfied with the win and already looking ahead: _**“But we’ll take the victory and look forward to the next match.”**_
The striker emphasised the demanding nature of the match, crediting Luxembourg for making Germany work hard. _**“As I said, the game was hard work, but that’s part of it sometimes, and then it’s important to take your chances - which we did today.”**_
When asked about his decisive role, Woltemade downplayed the personal spotlight. _**“In the end, I don’t care whether it’s >Woltemade< on the scoreboard twice or >Sané< twice — and by the way, he played me some great passes today.”**_
Still, he acknowledged what it means to him to deliver for his country: _**“Of course, it’s always an honour for me when I can take on an important role in this team.”**_