Germans in panic: What happens if we loose?
.jpg)
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 17.11.25. | 16:42
Germany has qualified for all World Cups but there is an option in which they will miss the USA trip in 2026
It was never supposed to be like this, not with Germany. Die Mannschaft have qualified for every World tournament they have entered (20 in total) and won the World Cup four times (last one was in 2014) so a question of being at FIFA‘s biggest and most prestigious tournament was never a question. But times change and the Germans are now facing uncertainty. In fact, the question ‘what happens if we loose‘ was unknown for Germans in qualifications before. And the population of EU‘s biggest country is so unaware of the scenarios ahead of them that biggest Germany‘s sporting papers, Bild and Kicker both have articles with the same headline: ‘What happens if we loose‘?
Well, since they managed to beat Luxemburg, they won‘t be out of the competition for the World Cup, not at least until March. If they win against Slovakia tonight, or even draw, they will travel to the USA directly. But if the Slovakian do the double over the Germans, die Mannschaft will enter the playoff round, which are not guaranteed for any participant. The participants are the twelve group runners-up – one of whom would be Germany – as well as the four highest-placed group winners from the Nations League who have not yet qualified for the World Cup. Germany would certainly be the favorites but who could guarantee them anything? After all, they were clearly the best team in Group A with Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxemburg, but lost to the Slovakians, which was never planned to happen.
So, the Germans want to avoid any unpleasant scenarios and additional games in March and the team is on full alert, especially since it‘s Slovakia, the only team which defeated them, and what is worse, it was their first-ever defeat away from home in World Cup qualifying. Coach Julian Nagelsmann will field out the strongest possible 11. Captain Joshua Kimmich and defender Nico Schlotterbeck sat out the Luxembourg game through injury, and if there is any chance for them, they will be involved. Dortmund‘s Karim Adeyemi was recently convicted of illegal possession of a firearm but the game is too important for Nagelsmann to deal with it now.
"This is a topic that takes up space and time, but I honestly don‘t have either as a coach before such a match. The issue is a bit too big before such an important game, for all of us and for German football. Therefore, I will not comment on any further inquiries – regardless of their nature" said the Germany‘s manager.
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - EUROPE
Monday
22.45: (1.01) Czech R. (22.0) Gibraltar (65.0)
22.45: (1.25) Germany (6.50) Slovakia (12.5)
22.45: (12.0) Malta (5.80) Poland (1.30)
22.45: (7.50) Montenegro (4.60) Croatia (1.48)
22.45: (1.60) N.Ireland (3.90) Luxembourg (6.00)
22.45: (1.05) Netherlands (14.0) Lithuania (35.0)
Tuesday
22.45: (1.38) Austria (4.70) B&H (8.50)
22.45: (10.5) Belarus (5.70) Greece (1.28)
22.45: (1.01) Belgium (20.0) Liechtenstein (70.0)
22.45: (5.60) Bulgaria (4.00) Georgia (1.60)
22.45: (6.00) Kosovo (3.90) Switzerland (1.58)
22.45: (1.01) Romania (20.0) San Marino (70.0)
22.45: (3.60) Scotland (3.25) Denmark (2.15)
22.45: (1.28) Spain (6.75) Turkey (10.5)
22.45: (1.58) Sweden (3.90) Slovenia (6.00)
22.45: (1.75) Wales (3.70) Macedonia (5.50)
***odds are subject to change***
