Seven goals, 14 substitutions, no cards — there were a lot of storylines in Germany’s draw in Basel. With two and a half months left to the World Cup though, most of the focus is on who will make the squad.
One man who doesn’t need to worry is Florian Wirtz. The 22-year-old is one of the first names on the teamsheet let alone in the squad, and against Switzerland he delivered just the latest masterclass in his young career.
Wirtz emerges as leader by example
Jonathan Tah’s first-ever Germany goal came from a Wirtz cross. It was Wirtz who saw Serge Gnabry make the darting run through the middle for Germany’s second. The Liverpool man’s curling, dipping finish put Germany ahead the first time and a delicately placed finish on the edge of the box put Julian Nagelsmann’s team ahead for the last time. Germany had won 4-3 and without Wirtz, they would have had nothing on the scoreboard.
“Flo’s [Wirtz] goals were exceptional,” Nagelsmann told RTL afterwards. “We know he is super creative.”
“You saw his class today,” Leon Goretzka said. “You can see it from his first touch for his second goal, and to place the ball in the top corner like he did was superb.”
The 22-year-old thrilled with Jamal Musiala at Euro 2024, prompting the combined nickname “Wusiala.”
In Cologne when Germany needed a breakthrough in a tough World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland, it was Wirtz who found it. When Germany needed a big result against Slovakia, it was Wirtz who helped get Germany going. While the start to his Liverpool career was bumpy, he has since found his form in a side that remains somewhat inconsistent. But wearing Germany’s new dark blue away kit inspired by the country’s 1990s training tops, the man bought in the following decade proved why he is becoming a leader by example.
“It probably was,” Wirtz said when asked if this was his best Germany game.
Perhaps the part that Nagelsmann will be most impressed with will be the impact Wirtz’s performance had on his team. When he took control, his teammates appeared to respond. His performance lifted that of those around him. It got Germany back on their feet every time they were knocked down.
“I’m not worried because we are really a good team with a really good defense,” Wirtz said. “You can see that we haven’t played together for a while but we have to work on that. I think all three goals were a bit preventable but it’s about winning and if we win by one more goal than the opposition then that’s also fine.”
Wirtz can’t stop defensive issues
Despite an impressive amount of tracking back, not even Wirtz could stop a remarkably efficient Swiss side. Murat Yakin’s team finished the game with three goals from three shots on target. It was the kind of efficiency Germany could only dream of, but even if there was a touch of misfortune from Germany’s perspective, it was also a familiar sight to see Nagelsmann’s side struggle defensively.
Germany’s build-up play left a lot to be desired, with Nico Schlotterbeck twice making mistakes that led to goals for the Swiss. Just days after 33-year-old Antonio Rüdiger appeared to have been handed the new role of being a back-up defender, Schlotterbeck’s outing might have made Nagelsmann think again. After all, for a side whose defense has been heavily criticized and deemed to be short of world-class quality in too many positions, errors in build-up play are a disaster. The 18th best side in the world proved as much, and left a reminder of what any of those inside the top 10 would do.
Afterwards though, it didn’t feel like a night for musing over familiar defensive woes. Wirtz wrestled back the narrative and made it about the hope behind Germany’s attack. Two quick corners are the sign of a well-versed side. Kai Havertz, returning for the first time since November 2024, showed signs of a player finding form and fitness. Serge Gnabry, who scored a fine goal with the final kick of the first half, can be counted as a squad regular again. Some of the passing moves were slick and exciting to watch. And then there was Wirtz, the man who is making Germany fans dream big.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
