NICK Woltemade scored again as Germany thrashed Slovakia to win the group and book their place at the 2026 World Cup.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side needed at least a draw to ensure their automatic qualification spot at the top of Group ‘A’ while victory for Slovakia would have seen them through instead and forced Germany into a play-off.
But, having scored twice against Luxembourg on Friday, Newcastle striker Woltemade’s powerful header from Joshua Kimmich’s cross put Germany in control early on in Leipzig.
Serge Gnabry then doubled the hosts’ lead, finishing into the corner from Leon Goretzka’s threaded pass, before Leroy Sane slotted home Florian Wirtz’s sublime ball into the penalty box.
The two combined again to give Germany a four-goal lead at the break, Sane prodding in the Liverpool midfielder’s cross to the far post.
The second half was a more tame affair, but Ridle Baku added a fifth goal, his first for Germany since 2021, when Bayern Munich winger Gnabry shifted across for the substitute to fire home a low strike.
Assan Ouedraogo added a sixth 12 minutes later, finishing smartly into the bottom corner just two minutes after coming on to make his international debut.
While this was an impressive attacking display from four-time World Cup winners Germany, it also marked a fourth straight clean sheet.
Slovakia were denied an equaliser at 1-0, when Oliver Baumann turned David Duris’ finish behind from close range but otherwise struggled with Germany’s high line and will now go into the play-offs after a chastening defeat.(BBC Sport)