For a Germany side aiming to draw level with Brazil on five World Cup wins just 10 months from now, a 2-0 loss to Slovakia on Thursday represented a nightmare start to this qualification campaign.
However, there was total expectation of a response on home turf, and Julian Nagelsmann's men didn’t have to wait long for an opener, as Nick Woltemade nicked the ball away from Eoin Toal and sent Serge Gnabry racing through to chip delicately over Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Strong defending from the likes of Paddy McNair kept Germany at bay in the immediate aftermath, spurring the visitors on to a spell of relative dominance.
McNair himself headed over from Northern Ireland’s first corner of the game, but their second produced even greater riches, as Justin Devenny floated his ball to the far post, where Isaac Price arrived to volley into the roof of the net.
The visitors’ high tempo continued into the second half, but Germany reorganised and produced a flurry of attempts, before the floodgates finally opened with 20 minutes to go.
Nadiem Amiri was allowed to wander into the area to pass into the empty net after Peacock-Farrell misjudged David Raum’s cross, before Florian Wirtz made it 3-1 by firing in a knuckleball free-kick from 25 yards out.
With this victory, Germany have avoided losing four international matches in a row for the first time since 1913, and will look to push on after suffering their first ever away WCQ loss on Thursday.
As for Michael O’Neill’s side, they have relinquished top spot in Group A, but with a new 48-team format incoming for next year’s finals, their hopes of a first appearance since 1986 remain firmly intact.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Florian Wirtz (Germany)
