Germany v Slovakia, Northern Ireland v Luxembourg, and more: World Cup 2026 qualifying – live

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Northern Ireland are, as we said, into the playoffs via the Nations League, but will want to build momentum going into that tonight. They fought hard against Slovakia, only to concede a winner in injury time, but they did beat the same opposition at home and, in Ethan Galbraith, have a very modern midfielder doing brillaintly at Swansea.

Looking at the Netherlands side, Matthijs de Ligt isn’t just back in the squad but back in the team. He’s earned that with his performances this season, but there’s not much recovery pace between him and Virgil van Dijk, nor does he have the safety in numbers provided by three centre-backs and Casemiro sat in front.

Slovakia aren’t the same without the recently retired totem – and now assistant manager – Marek Hamsik. It’s hard to see how they can get after Germany, but Napoli’s Stan Lobota and Atleti’s David Hancko are useful; perhaps David Strelec of Boro can save the day. Otherwise, Leo Sauer, currently with Feyenoord, was excellent when the sides met in Bratislava.

So, what’s interesting? I’m looking forward to seeing how Germany do in midfield; I’ve always enjoyed Leon Goretzka, though he’s past his best now, but alongside him, Pavlovic is already extremely good with plenty of scope to get better. I am, of course, also keen to see how Florian Wirtz gets on – the pace of international football might suit him better than that of the Prem.

Group L teams

Montenegro (4-4-2): Nikic; Vesovic, Tuci, Rubezic, Marusic; Jankovic, Loncar, Bulatovic, Osmajic; Jovetic, Krstovic. Subs: Popovic, Petkovic, Milic, Radunovic, Sipcic, Simun, Vukotic, Brnovic, Perovic, Adzic, Kostic, Djukanovic.

Croatia (4-2-3-1): Livakovic; Jakic, Sutalo, Caleta-car, Gvardiol; Perisic, Moro, Vlasic, Mario Pasalic, Ivanovic; Matanovic. Subs: Pandur, Stanisic, Pongracic, Erlic, Modric, Sucic, Fruk, Pasalic, Kramaric, Musa, Orsic.

**

Czechia (4-2-3-1): Kovar; Coufal, Hranac, Zeleny, Jurasek; Beran, Soucek; Doudera, Schick, Karabec; Chory. Subs: Jedlicka, Markovic, Chaloupek, Rynes, Sadilek, Cerv, Hellebrand, Danek, Ladra, Sejk, Chytil.

Gibraltar (4-3-3): Hankins; Olivero, Lopes, Mauro, Jolley; Ronan, Pozo, Torilla; Scanlon, Bartolo, Del Río. Subs: Banda, Lopez, McClafferty, Mouelhi, Bent, Perera, Vinet, Morgan, Borge, Jessop.

Group G teams

Netherlands (4-3-3): Verbruggen; Timber J, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Aké; Reinjders, De Jong; Simons, Malen, Gakpo; Depay. Subs: Roefs, Flekken, Geertruida, Van de Ven, Gravenberch, Timber Q, Schouten, Valente, Emegha, Lang.

Lithuania (5-3-2): Gertmonas; Tutyskinas, Armalas, Utkus; Sirvys, Gineitis, Vorobjovas, Sirgedas, Lasickas; Cernych, Kalinauskas. Subs: Svedkauskas, Barktus, Olberkis, Beneta, Upstas, Lekiatus, Micevicius, Simkus, Golubickas, Burba, Paulauskas, Dubickas.

**

Malta (4-2-3-1): Bonello; Muscat, Mentz, Shaw, Camenzuli; Satariano, Guillaumier; J.Mbong, Teuma, Chouaref; Cardona. Subs: Debono, Al-Tumi, Borg, Pepe, Beerman, Overend, Grech, Paiber, Mbong, Zammit, Buhagiar, Corbalan,

Poland (5-4-1): Dragowski; Wszolek, Kedziora, Kiwior, Wisnieski, Skoras; Kaminski, Slisz, Zielinski, Zalewski; Lewandowski. Subs: Kochalski, Grabara, Cash, Ziolkowski, Szczesniak, Bereszynski, Kapustka, Grosicki, Rozga, Kozlowski, Swiderski, Buksa.

Group A teams

Germany (4-2-3-1): Baumann; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Pavlović, Goretzka; Gnabry, Wirtz, Sané; Woltemade. Subs: Schneller, Dahmen, Thiaw, Anton, Brown, Baku, Ouedraogo, Nmecha, Schade, Leweling, Burkardt, Adeyemi.

Slovakia (4-3-3): Dúbravka; Gyömbér, Skriniar, Obert, Hancko; Bero, Lobotka, Sauer; Duris, Strelec, Duda. Subs: Pekarík, Schranz, Satka, Hrosovsky, Vavro, Haraslin, Benes, Rodák, Takac, Boženík, Bobcek, Rigo.

**

Northern Ireland (3-5-2): Hazard, Brown, McNair, McConville; Bradley, Lewis, Galbraith, Lyons, McDonnell; Donley, Price. Subs: Clarke, Southwood, Toal, Johnson, Devlin, Devenny, McCausland, Kelly, Marshall, Charles, Smyth, Magennis.

Luxembourg (4-3-3): Moris; Jans, Carlson, Korac, Martins M; Barreiro, Olesen, Martins C; Dardari, Thill, Sinani. Subs: Pereira, Fox, Veiga, Selimovic, Dzogovic, Mustafic, Moreira, Thill, Embaló, Curci, Avdusinovic, Muratovic.

Let’s have a look at some teams…

Preamble

As we well know, these days World Cup qualifiers are designed to deprive us of the good stuff: heartbreak, horror, devastation, desolation, regret, pain, agony, embarrassment, humiliation and so on. Sadly, the best we can do tonight is irritating inconvenience, but in these straitened times, we’ll absolutely take it.

Our major intrigue comes in Group A, where Germany take on Slovakia in Leipzig. The two sides are level on points and confirmed as the top two finishers with Julian Nagelsmann’s mannschaft, ahead on goal difference, needing to avoid defeat to ensure automatic qualification. If they are beaten, they will move into the playoffs with the visitors advancing – and we’ll also have a quarter of an an eye on Northern Ireland, into the playoffs via the Nations League, against Luxembourg.

In Amsterdam, meanwhile, the Netherlands – top of Group G – must avoid defeat to Lithuania, or see Poland fail to beat Malta, to take the automatic qualifying spot. If they lose and Poland win, Jan Urban’s men go straight into the finals ... provided there’s a goal difference swing of 13.

And finally to Group L, which offers no misery for our delectation. Croatia, whose meeting with Montenegro might still be spicy, are qualified in first place; Czechia, who entertain Gibraltar, are cemented in second. But with the big thing not too far away, anything we can learn now stands us in good stead for then.

Kick-offs: 7.45pm GMT

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