The night in Bratislava was supposed to be routine for Germany, but instead it became a nightmare that plunged their proud footballing nation into chaos. For the first time in 48 World Cup qualifiers away from home, Germany were beaten. And it was not by Spain, France, or another powerhouse—it was Slovakia who sent shockwaves through the footballing world. The 2-0 defeat was described by BILD as a “historic embarrassment,” and at the centre of the storm was Liverpool’s £100 million summer signing, Florian Wirtz.
When Wirtz arrived at Anfield just months ago, Liverpool fans celebrated his arrival as the dawn of a new creative era. A gifted playmaker from Bayer Leverkusen, he was hailed as the man to carry the torch of creativity for years to come. At Anfield, he has already shown glimpses of his brilliance, dazzling in his natural No.10 role. But for Germany in Bratislava, he was shunted onto the left wing, far from his comfort zone, and it showed.
The game unravelled in a cruel fashion. In the 42nd minute, Wirtz lost possession under pressure from David Hancko, who ruthlessly punished the mistake by finding the net. From that moment, Germany’s body language collapsed, their resilience evaporated, and the ghosts of past failures began to creep into the minds of their supporters. Wirtz, who had earlier provided Germany’s only real sparks with a low drive and a clever assist for Leon Goretzka’s chance, was suddenly being singled out for blame. National media declared him and fellow youngster Nick Woltemade “almost invisible,” a damning assessment for two of the Bundesliga’s most hyped talents.
The criticism stung because there was truth to it. Wirtz looked frustrated, arguing with opponents instead of tracking back. At times, he seemed to carry the weight of Germany’s creative hopes all alone, but when things went wrong, his youthful temper betrayed him. He was given a 5/10 rating by both BILD and Bundesliga News, a score that summed up his evening: flashes of brilliance, but a costly mistake that overshadowed everything.
For Liverpool fans, it was a worrying sight. They had seen their new star dominate in red, gliding across the pitch with elegance, threading passes that unlocked defences, and striking fear into opponents. But international football is different. Wirtz, barely 22, found himself under the glare of a nation’s expectation, and this time, he faltered.
The fallout in Germany was brutal. Bastian Schweinsteiger, a World Cup winner and voice of authority, did not hold back. “We were really bad. We didn’t play good passes, we didn’t pose any threat. Our body language after the 0-1 was gone immediately. If you want to win anything, you have to show resilience.” His words cut deep. For Schweinsteiger, the problem wasn’t just tactical—it was psychological. Germany’s players lacked fight, and in a footballing culture that prides itself on discipline and determination, that was unacceptable.
For Wirtz, the defeat represents a crossroads. International football can make or break a player’s reputation. At Liverpool, he has the trust of Arne Slot, who plays him in his favoured role and surrounds him with structure and freedom. With Germany, he is still searching for his place in Julian Nagelsmann’s puzzle. The weight of expectation is immense—he is seen as one of the heirs to Germany’s golden generation, a creative genius meant to fill the void left by Mesut Özil. Nights like Bratislava will test not just his ability, but his mental toughness.
The bigger story, though, is what this defeat means for Germany as a whole. This was their third successive loss, following defeats to Portugal and France. Once feared as a machine, they now look fragile, disjointed, and short of belief. The road to the 2026 World Cup has begun with humiliation, and questions about whether Nagelsmann is the right man are already swirling.
Wirtz will not have much time to dwell on the criticism. Germany face Northern Ireland next, a game that suddenly feels like a must-win. And in a twist of fate, he will come up against his Liverpool team-mate Conor Bradley, who has been rising steadily for both club and country. It will be a fascinating battle: two Reds on opposite sides, one looking to redeem himself, the other eager to write his own story.
For Liverpool supporters, this episode may not change much in the long run. They know that Wirtz is special. They know that mistakes happen, especially at international level where pressure is suffocating. But it is a reminder that he is young, human, and still growing. The £100m man will be judged not by one bad night in Slovakia, but by how he responds. And at Anfield, surrounded by belief and love, there is every chance he will rise stronger. Germany may call this defeat a historic embarrassment. For Wirtz, it could become a historic lesson
