Germany and Luxembourg will be desperate for three points when they face off at the PreZero Arena in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers on Friday.
The international break is back, and thus resumes the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers across the world. The action on Friday will begin with an early game between Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein before continuing with seven simultaneous matches, including Germany vs Luxembourg at the PreZero Arena.
Germany’s performances this year have been underwhelming, as after showing considerable progress under Julian Nagelsmann, they have won only two games in six outings thus far in 2025. A four-match winless run saw them finish fourth in the UEFA Nations League before losing in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers opener against Slovakia. However, Die Mannschaft bounced back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland to end last month’s international break.
On the other hand, Luxembourg’s form has not been far from usual in 2025, although they began the year with an impressive 1-0 win over Sweden. Since then, the Red Lions have been on a five-match winless run, including four defeats. Two of those losses came in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, placing Jeff Strasser’s men at the bottom of Group A.
The most recent match involving Germany and Luxembourg ended in a 7-0 win for Die Mannschaft in May 2006. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Germany
Julian Nagelsmann has made nearly half a dozen changes to the squad he picked during last month’s international break. Germany’s head coach has dropped five players due to poor form and injury concerns.
Antonio Rudiger, Maximilian Mittelstadt, Nnamdi Collins, Pascal Gross, and Paul Nebel have not found a spot in Nagelsmann’s squad, with Rudiger the most notable absentee due to a hamstring injury. Additionally, Kai Havertz (knee) and Jamal Musiala (ankle) remain unavailable due to their fitness concerns.
Alexander Nubel will take his spot between the sticks, with Germany lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Luxembourg on Friday. The central defensive unit will feature Robin Koch, Jonathan Tah, and Waldemar Anton. Meanwhile, Kevin Schade and David Raum should be the two wing-backs.
The wide duo will provide width in the final third and protect the centre-backs. As for the midfield unit, Leon Goretzka will pair up with captain Joshua Kimmich in the middle of the park, with Angelo Stiller missing out. Finally, Maximilian Beier will lead the line for Germany against Luxembourg, with Serge Gnabry and Florian Wirtz completing the numbers in the offensive third. Nick Woltemade will start on the bench after struggling with flu-like symptoms this week.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Nubel: Anton, Tah, Koch; Schade, Kimmich, Goretzka, Raum; Gnabry, Wirtz; Beier
Luxembourg
Unlike his counterpart in the German dugout, Jeff Strasser has not made many changes to the squad he picked for September’s international break. Luxembourg’s head coach has dropped only two players from last month’s group, and only a few shuffles are expected vs Germany.
Mica Pinto and Enzo Duarte are the absentees compared to last month’s squad. Meanwhile, Lucas Fox and Kenan Avdusinovic are in line to make their senior bows for Luxembourg this month.
Anthony Moris will take his spot between the sticks, with Luxembourg lining up in a 5-4-1 formation in front of him vs Germany on Friday. The backline will feature Florian Bohnert, Dirk Carlson, Mathias Olesen, Enes Mahmutovic, and captain Laurent Jans.
As for the midfield unit, Olivier Thill and Leandro Barreiro will pair up in the central areas, with Danel Sinani and Aiman Dardari being the two wide attackers. Finally, Edvin Muratovic will lead the line for Luxembourg against Germany on Friday.
Probable Lineup (5-4-1): Moris; Jans, Mahmutovic, Olesen, Carlson, Bohnert; Sinani, Olivier Thill, Barreiro, Dardari; Muratovic
Key Stats
- Germany and Luxembourg have previously faced off 12 times, with Die Mannschaft clinching 11 wins (L1).
- Germany have a perfect record of three wins (9-1, 3-2 and 4-0) in competitive meetings with Luxembourg. They have also won eight of nine friendlies (L1).
- Germany have only ever lost three World Cup qualifiers on home soil (to Portugal in 1985, England in 2001 and North Macedonia in 2021).
- Julian Nagelsmann’s record in his first 25 matches as Germany’s head coach reads: W13 D6 L6.
Player to Watch
Serge Gnabry
While Nick Woltemade, Danel Sinani, and Leandro Barreiro were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Serge Gnabry as the Player to Watch for Friday’s clash in the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Germany and Luxembourg at the PreZero Arena.
The 30-year-old has been on a resurgent run in the early days of the 2025/26 season, and he has amassed three goals after six rounds of fixtures in the Bundesliga. Gnabry will aim to take that form to international football, hoping to end Germany’s frustrating run this year.
Prediction
Germany 3-0 Luxembourg
With Germany struggling to embark on a positive run of form, Luxembourg may feel they have a decent chance to clinch a surprise result at the PreZero Arena. Additionally, the visitors have not been as porous at the back as many would have expected in the early stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
However, the gulf in quality between the two sides may be too big to bridge, and we expect Serge Gnabry and Nick Woltemade to make the difference in the final third. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Julian Nagelsmann and his charges.
