Germany vs Northern Ireland: World Cup Qualifier Preview
Germany vs Northern Ireland: World Cup Qualifier Preview
Venue: RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne Date: Sunday, 7 September Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Coverage: Live broadcast available on BBC One NI, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app.
Conor Bradley is eager to face his new Liverpool teammate Florian Wirtz when Northern Ireland takes on Germany in their World Cup qualifying match on Sunday. Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million in June and has already made three appearances in the Premier League for manager Arne Slot’s side.
The 22-year-old Bradley recently returned from a hamstring injury and substituted for Wirtz in a match against Newcastle United. However, they are set to compete directly against each other along the flank at the RheinEnergieStadion.
“Florian is a top player. There’s a reason we signed him for that amount,” Bradley remarked, noting that he scored his first goal for Northern Ireland against Scotland, where Liverpool's Andy Robertson plays, in March 2024. “He has had an impressive few years at Leverkusen and has started the season strongly. He’s very skilled with the ball, creative, and unafraid to take risks.”
“I know it will be a challenging night for me, but I hope to make it difficult for him as well,” he added.
Bradley’s participation in Northern Ireland's recent victory over Luxembourg marked his first start of the 2025-26 season, having played only 10 minutes for Liverpool due to his injury. He expressed frustration at missing the start of the season, especially as he aimed to secure the right-back position following Trent Alexander-Arnold's transfer to Real Madrid.
“It was really disappointing to get injured when I did,” he said. “It wasn’t a major injury, just a few weeks out, but it was frustrating. I’m just glad to be back now.”
“I have to be patient and manage my energy during games to ensure I can complete them while taking care of myself.”
Germany enters the match following a surprising 2-0 defeat to Slovakia, which has left the race for World Cup qualification from Pool A “wide open,” according to Bradley. “I was shocked to hear about Slovakia’s win after our match in Luxembourg,” he said.
“This result can be seen in two ways. On one hand, it keeps the group competitive, which is positive for us. If we can secure a good result, it will benefit us greatly.”
Despite Germany's recent struggles, with three consecutive losses under coach Julian Nagelsmann, Bradley remains aware of their formidable history as four-time World Cup champions. “It’s going to be a tough challenge. Germany is one of the top footballing nations globally,” he noted.
“They have exceptional players, and it’s always rewarding to compete against the best to gauge where you stand. With their recent loss, they will be eager to perform well from the start, so we need to stay united, and I believe we have a good chance.”