Florian Wirtz provided an assist and gave Andoni Iraola food for over his position, as he helped Germany thrash Curacao 7-1.
While Wirtz may not have yet lived up to his price tag for Liverpool, his form for Germany hasn’t particularly dipped and he looks in great form at the World Cup.
Dick Advocaat’s Curacao weren’t the toughest of opponents to begin with, but they are still a team made up of several players from the Championship and the Eredivisie.
Wirtz notched the assist for Felix Nmecha’s superb opener, playing on the left – and his position was particularly notable for Liverpool supporters.
This isn’t a role that was alien to Wirtz by any means – he played there 14 times for Liverpool this season, according to Transfermarkt – but he was used more often by Arne Slot as a central attacking midfielder.
While playing on the left can require a slightly different skill set, Wirtz’s role wasn’t that of a winger asked to hug the touchline.
Instead, Julian Nagelsmann’s system allowed him to drift inside onto his right foot to create – and create, he did.
The Liverpool No. 7 made eight passes into the final third, created four chances and was widely praised for his performance.
With the Reds short of wingers, Wirtz could find himself out wide more often next season if he excels there in the World Cup.
German players celebrate after scoring during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Germany and Curacao in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Iraola will need at least one rapid wide man on the pitch, but if Wirtz has Milos Kerkez to overlap consistently, this could be a chance for him to finally settle in one role at Anfield.
Former Celtic, Norwich and Blackburn striker Chris Sutton was among those to praise the German, saying on BBC Radio 5 Live:
“The mitigation must be that this was Curacao, but the Liverpool fans who watched the game, especially in the first half, would be wondering if it was the same Florian Wirtz who played for them last season.
“He looked happy in a German jersey, at ease and playing with freedom. He was sharp off the left, drifting inside to play quick, incisive passes.
“He was creative and cunning, he looked unburdened, he was a real menace.”
Online, fans made similar comments.
SANE ROBBED OF WIRTZ A GENERATIONAL ASSIST ?pic.twitter.com/Qvhjua6YZk
— ???? (@LFC_Sam__) June 14, 2026
This is the clever bit from Nagelsmann. ??
Kimmich is not really playing as a normal right-back. He is tucking inside to form a tight back three with Tah and Schlotterbeck, which gives Germany security behind the ball.
That frees Brown to stay high and wide on the left, with…
— Pranav Kannan (@PranavKannan01) June 14, 2026
I hope people stop with the stupid idea that Wirtz can’t or shouldn’t ever play LW. He can and he does it well
— Watch LFC (@Watch_LFC) June 15, 2026
Especially with Kerkez bombing forwards next season, and potentially Diomande RW,
LW might be where we see Wirtz next season ??
— LFCAllIn (@LFCALLIN) June 15, 2026
Germany don't play with wingers FFS
Sane is the only one who has played as a winger but they essentially play with 3 Tens behind the striker
Its very fluid and its about creating space through movement rather than 1 v 1s
Ifs a different way of playing
Andoni and Klopp system…
— NIck 1977 (@NickStuart1977) June 15, 2026
He’ll let Kerkez bomb on, so imagine it’ll be Wirtz left half space. Szobozlai’s running power to compensate for Isak’s lack of.
— Rory Greenfield (@RoryGreenfield) June 15, 2026
I would like to see Diomandé as RW with a new, defensively solid RB behind him (e.g. Doué). On the left, Kerkez with total freedom to bomb forward, and Wirtz as a LW/nr10 hybrid. Grav and a new midfielder (or Macca) in the double pivot as 6/8 hybrids and Szobo advanced 8.
— João Martins (@jlomartins1) June 15, 2026
Wirtz may not be a winger in the mould of Sadio Mane or Luis Diaz, but in a fluid formation, he could start there for Iraola when out of possession.
Of course, on the ball, the 23-year-old needs to be allowed freedom to best use his extraordinary vision and technical ability.
However, while he should be given some autonomy, Wirtz does need a level of structure to perform. No player is allowed a free pass in Iraola’s side.