Germany booked their direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup in convincing fashion as group winners on Monday evening in Leipzig. In front of 40,120 spectators at the Red Bull Arena, Julian Nagelsmann’s side ran out clear 6-0 winners over Slovakia in their final qualifier, gaining revenge for the 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in Bratislava. Goals from Nick Woltemade (18’), Serge Gnabry (29’), Leroy Sané with a brace (36’, 41’), substitute Ridle Baku (67’) and debutant Assan Ouédraogo (79’) sealed their place at next summer’s tournament.
Nagelsmann started with goalkeeper Oliver Baumann behind a back four featuring two returning players: captain Joshua Kimmich at right-back and Nico Schlotterbeck partnering Jonathan Tah in the centre. David Raum kept his place on the left. Aleksandar Pavlovic and Leon Goretzka formed the midfield base, with Florian Wirtz, Gnabry and Sané supporting frontman Woltemade further forward.
The DFB team took control from the first whistle, moving the ball quickly, pressing high in Slovak possession, and creating their first half-chance in the fourth minute when Wirtz crossed for Gnabry. Schlotterbeck fired over under pressure from a corner shortly afterwards (9’). Germany’s pressure steadily mounted as they dominated possession and broke up Slovakia’s attempts to counter early and effectively – 70 percent possession told the story after 15 minutes.
##### **Woltemade, Gnabry, double for Sané – 4-0 at the break**
After Kimmich won the ball strongly on the touchline, Wirtz had the first clean shot from 14 yards, but was leaning back and sent it over the bar (14’). The breakthrough came soon after though: following a cleared corner, Kimmich picked out Woltemade unmarked in the six-yard box, and the forward headed home confidently.
Almost straight from the restart, Slovakia had their first real chance out of nowhere – David Duris was denied by a strong Baumann save (21’) and then volleyed just over from the resulting corner (22’). At the other end, Gnabry was clean through but couldn’t beat keeper Martin Dubravka (25’).
Germany kept pushing, maintained the pressure, and got their reward. Goretzka’s perfect through ball gave Gnabry a clear opening, and the winger finished clinically for his 25th goal on his 57th international cap. Slovakia continued to threaten sporadically – David Hancko headed just wide from a corner (35’) – but Germany responded instantly. Wirtz sent Sané clear with a clever ball over the top, and the winger calmly slotted into the far corner. Moments later, the same duo combined again – this time Sané got on the end of a teasing cross to poke the ball past Dubravka from close range and make it 4-0.
##### **Baku adds to the tally off the bench**
Felix Nmecha came on for Pavlovic in midfield at the break, with the game’s rhythm largely unchanged. Germany continued to press high and pin Slovakia back, though the tempo had naturally dropped a touch. With the result effectively secured, the home side were less aggressive going forward, but still dominant.
Nagelsmann took advantage of the situation to rotate further – Malick Thiaw and Baku replaced Schlotterbeck (63’) and Kimmich (64’). Sané almost grabbed his third after another Wirtz pass, but fired into the side netting (65’). Instead, Baku was next on the scoresheet – following a fine move through Wirtz, Woltemade and Gnabry, the substitute rifled in a low finish for 5-0.
##### **Dream debut for Ouédraogo**
Nathaniel Brown replaced Raum on 72 minutes, with Germany still pushing. Nmecha’s long-range strike lacked direction (72’) before Dubravka turned away Goretzka’s low effort (73’). Then came the moment for Ouédraogo – the 17-year-old came on for Wirtz (77’) and just two minutes later applied a finish to Sané’s back-heel assist to crown his debut with a goal.
Ouédraogo almost turned provider too – his lay-off set up Nmecha at the edge of the box, but the midfielder shot just wide (84’). Germany then saw out the final minutes with calm possession to wrap up a dominant performance and celebrate securing World Cup qualification.