In just a few days, the Premier League and other major competitions around the globe will restart following the final international break before the busy holiday period. ..Continue Reading
Throughout the past week, top European teams have been wrapping up their final qualifying fixtures for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.
After securing a 2-0 victory away to Luxembourg, Germany strengthened their position at the top of Group A and confirmed their automatic qualification with a commanding 6-0 win over Slovakia.
Right after the triumph over Slovakia, German publications released their assessments, and they seemed to share a unified view on the display of Liverpool’s Wirtz.
Since joining Arne Slot’s team, the midfielder has struggled to settle, drawing criticism from supporters and analysts in both England and Germany.
However, following his standout performance in Germany’s dominant outing against Slovakia, the tone in the German press shifted, with many commending the Liverpool player for his impact.
“Florian Wirtz left his doppelganger in England this time,” claimed German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.
“Ah, good to see you again, Mr. Wirtz, we’ve missed you! For weeks it wasn’t even clear whether it was Florian Wirtz or a bewildered doppelganger on the pitch in Liverpool and the national team.
“In Leipzig, the original was back: technique, turns, crosses, passes, two beautiful assists before Leroy Sané’s goals – everything was back to normal, just like the player who cost a fortune this summer.
“He even provided arguments for being named Man of the Match without scoring himself. If Julian Nagelsmann wants to achieve his goal (the title) at the World Cup, he needs exactly this Wirtz.”
Another outlet, Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ), echoed the praise, highlighting the performances of both Wirtz and Leroy Sane, who netted twice with assists from the Liverpool midfielder.
They wrote: “For Wirtz, struggling at Liverpool, and Sane returning to the German national team, this half-time match was balm for the soul after many debates in recent weeks.”
Still, not every publication was fully convinced. 90 Plus pointed out that Wirtz’s difficult start at Liverpool was noticeable, stating: “The Liverpool star’s current crisis at the club was evident; he didn’t initially exude much confidence.
“However, he improved steadily and played a crucial role in the 4-0 halftime lead with two excellent assists for Sané (36th, 41st minute). He was hard-working defensively and deserved a goal of his own.”
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