Northern Ireland vs. Germany preview: Team news and predicted lineups

Germany will hope to consolidate their lead in Group A with a win in Belfast.

Germany face a tricky trip to Northern Ireland on Monday as they aim to keep their lead in the World Cup qualifying group. Including the 3-1 success in Köln last month, Die Nationalmannschaft were victorious in each of their previous ten encounters against the Green and White Army.

Northern Ireland

GAWA (Green and White Army) are one of the three teams to collect six points from the first three qualifying games in Group A. After a win in Luxembourg and a defeat to Germany, Michael O’Neill’s side played their first home game against Slovakia on Friday.

The visitors had the perfect record before the Windsor Park clash, but Northern Ireland put an end to that streak with a 2-0 victory. Sunderland’s fullback Trai Hume sealed the win with his first international goal.

Northern Ireland are hoping to return to the biggest stage for the first time since the 1986 World Cup. This is their only chance to add another experience from the 2016 Euros as the tournaments they took part in four decades.

Team News

Conor Bradley will miss Monday’s game through suspension after a “Man of the Match” performance in the win over Slovakia. The Liverpool right-back was wearing the captain’s armband on Friday. His replacement will most likely be Brodie Spencer, who is playing for Championship’s relegation-threatened side Oxford United.

Germany

Germany started their campaign with their first-ever away defeat in a World Cup qualifier. The 2-0 defeat in Slovakia caused uproar, but Nagelsmann’s troops responded well with comfortable wins over Northern Ireland and Luxembourg.

Joshua Kimmich, who looks forward to entering the all-time top-ten list for appearances on Monday, played a starring role with his first international brace in the 4-0 win against Luxembourg. Germany played that game with an extra man advantage for 70 minutes.

David Raum’s maiden strike and Serge Gnabry’s tenth World Cup qualifier goal contributed to the final scoreline. Unless they lose out on the top spot in the group, Germany’s qualifying campaign will be concluded next month with a trip to Luxembourg and a home game in Leipzig against Slovakia.

Team News

Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Antonio Rudiger, Kai Havertz, and Jamal Musiala will not even be in contention for November’s international break due to serious injuries. Following Luxembourg’s game, Niclas Füllkrug and Jamie Leweling left Germany’s camp due to fresh injury.

Predicted Lineups:

Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell; Hume ©, Ballard, McNair; Spencer, Price, McCann, Charles, Devenny; Galbraith, Reid

Germany: Baumann; Kimmich ©, Schlotterbeck, Tah, Raum; Pavlovic, Goretzka; Adeyemi, Gnabry, Wirtz; Woltemade