Historically unfavorable winning drought confronts Nagelsmann
German National Team Faces Crucial Match Against Northern Ireland
The German national football team is gearing up for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland, aiming to dispel doubts following a disappointing start to the qualifiers. The match, scheduled for Sunday at 8:45 PM and will be broadcast on RTL, holds significant implications for coach Julian Nagelsmann.
A loss against Northern Ireland could result in Nagelsmann becoming the second coach of the German national team with such a losing streak, after Hansi Flick. This would also mark a historic low for the German team, as it would be the first time in over 100 years that a German team loses four consecutive games.
Since the dramatic 3-3 draw against Italy in the Nations League quarter-final in March, the German team has endured a five-game winless streak. This run includes losses against Portugal (1:2), France (0:2), and Slovakia (0:2).
Julian Nagelsmann, who celebrates his fifth anniversary as the coach of the German national team against Northern Ireland, had aimed to start a winning streak this year to instill confidence in his team for the 2026 World Cup. However, the current losing streak has cast a shadow over his tenure.
The German team's current losing streak is not a new phenomenon. Prior to this, in 1908 and 1909, the German team lost the first four international matches in the history of the DFB. The last time a German team lost four consecutive games was in 1913, when they lost seven games in a row.
If Nagelsmann loses against Northern Ireland, he would become the first coach of the German national team with such a losing streak, and if he loses the subsequent game against Luxembourg, he would be the first coach to lose five consecutive games.
Nagelsmann, who cites Argentina and Spain, the current World and European champions, as role models, is determined to avoid this unwanted record. The game in which he could achieve his first win after four consecutive losses as coach of the German national team is the World Cup qualifying match against Luxembourg on October 10, 2025, in Sinsheim.
The German team's current coach is under pressure to turn things around, and a win against Northern Ireland could be the first step towards rebuilding the team's confidence and reputation ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
