Germany’s head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, stated that achieving a shutout is “consistently pleasing” as his team prepares to welcome Ghana to Stuttgart, merely three days after triumphing 4-3 in Switzerland, having thrice recovered from a deficit.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s creative midfielder, assisted two goals and netted a brace – including the deciding strike in the 85th minute – while Die Mannschaft’s preparations for their group-stage encounters against Curacao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador at the 2026 FIFA World Cup proceeded in a rather unconvincing fashion.
“I anticipate and desire for us to secure the victory in this match,” Nagelsmann conceded, implying his surprise at the extent of Ghana’s 5-1 defeat to Austria in Vienna on the same evening.
“[Wirtz] displayed flashes of his potential, yet he is capable of performing with even greater vigor and proficiency.
“He receives a fair amount of game time at his club, but he has been absent from numerous pivotal fixtures, and we must factor in his current lack of match fitness. He will be granted another opportunity to improve on Monday.”
Ghana accumulated 25 points from 10 qualification encounters to reach the finals and is scheduled to compete against European nations in their concluding two group fixtures, facing England and Croatia subsequent to an inaugural match against Panama.
Positioned at 73rd in FIFA’s global standings, Otto Addo’s squad lags 63 spots behind Germany, notably featuring Hamburg-born Union Berlin left-back Derrick Kohn among its members.
“I was an under-15 player at Hamburger SV, and Otto served as the coach for the under-19 team,” Kohn recounted, having been called up for the second time and eligible for Ghana through his parents, in an interview with the DFB.
“We frequently encountered each other between training grounds and engaged in extensive conversations. Given that he is also German-Ghanaian, our bond was quite distinct. He greatly inspired me.”
“There is certainly a touch of the Hamburg accent within the national team; after all, [Atto and I] are not the sole individuals with German heritage.”
“When we hold one-on-one discussions, we naturally communicate in German. During my inaugural international match against Japan, he even conveyed his directives to me in German.”
“These days, numerous players are offspring of immigrant parents. In our generation, such a circumstance is nothing out of the ordinary. Generally, however, the coach communicates in English or in our native Ghanaian tongue, Twi.”
“I possess two homelands. I am thoroughly German, and I am thoroughly Ghanaian. I feel at ease within both cultures.”
“[A match like this is] astonishing – and truly a childhood aspiration realized.”
Germany v Ghana squad updates
Germany’s goalkeeper, Jonas Urbig, has been substituted in the roster by Augsburg’s Finn Dahmen due to a knee ailment.
Newcastle forward Nick Woltemade is slated to begin the match at the stadium of his former club, Stuttgart, while Die Schwaben’s leading goal-scorer, Deniz Undav – whose 18 goals in this season’s Bundesliga place him only behind Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane – is set to participate.
“The intention is for him to receive some game time,” Nagelsmann remarked about Undav. “This is not because of Stuttgart, but rather his impressive scoring record. He merits this opportunity.”
Bayern’s Jamal Musiala is sidelined with an injury, and teammate Aleksandar Pavlovic withdrew from the squad as a precautionary measure against injury.
Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha is dealing with a knee issue that Nagelsmann hopes will not exclude the midfielder from the upcoming tournament.
Alex Nubel, currently on loan to Stuttgart from Bayern, will start, with Nagelsmann describing the selection as a “recognition” for the custodian.
Defenders Derrick Luckassen and forward Daniel Agyei could make their inaugural appearances for Ghana, having been unused substitutes against Austria.
Defensive players Marvin Senaya and Patric Pfeiffer earned their first international caps in that game, but forwards Inaki Williams and Brandon Thomas-Asante were not involved due to injuries, prompting the call-up of Hamburg’s Yansford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer to the attack.
“Many other players are injured, and I anticipate that everyone will, at the very least, be fit for the World Cup,” Addo stated prior to the defeat, which has sparked calls from some for the former winger, who represented Ghana at the 2006 World Cup, to relinquish his position.
Central defender Alexander Djiku and midfielders Ibrahim Sulemana and Thomas Partey rejoined the squad for the friendly matches.
Tottenham’s wide player Mohammed Kudus was not named in the roster but has recommenced light training following a prolonged hamstring ailment.