Image Credits: Imago Images
Florian Wirtz’s adaptation to Liverpool has already placed him under unusual scrutiny, and Germany’s World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg only intensified that spotlight.
With Julian Nagelsmann’s side pushing to secure automatic qualification, this fixture was expected to offer Wirtz a calmer platform — a chance to produce the confident, controlled display Germany normally expects from him.
Instead, the night turned into another reminder of his slow start to the season.
Wirtz was handed the central role behind the striker, tasked with linking play and raising Germany’s tempo in the final third.
But his influence faded as the match progressed, and the discussion after the game quickly shifted away from the team’s result and towards his individual form.
The German media were sharp with their assessments.
Eurosport said “the Liverpool player tried hard, got shots on goal, but remained unlucky”.
It added that “the crowd enjoyed it when he missed a shot at goal”.
On its rating scale, he received a 4.0, which placed him among the lowest in the team.
German outlet Web.de linked his Liverpool struggles to this game.
It wrote that Wirtz’s “slump at Liverpool is also evident in his German national team jersey”.
It also noted that “he had a few chances in the final third, but none of them resulted in a goal”.
Then came the most direct line of the night: “His first shot was too hesitant.”
Kicker went even further with its summary of the team’s performance.
It did not mention Wirtz by name but stated that “too many players in the German team were out of form on Friday”.
It warned that “a repeat performance on Monday could have disastrous consequences.”
From a Liverpool perspective, the takeaway is clear.
Wirtz is contributing, working, and showing for the ball — but the expectation around him is higher.
Germany’s reaction reflects the same theme Liverpool fans have seen: the flashes are there, yet the decisive moments are still missing.
Read more: Argentina media react to Alexis Mac Allister performance vs Angola
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