Six-Star Germany cruise into 2026 world cup as Woltemade shines

Nick Woltemade was on the scoresheet once again as Germany cruised past Slovakia to secure top spot in Group A and seal their automatic ticket to the 2026 World Cup, Sport360NG reports.

Julian Nagelsmann’s team went into the match knowing a point would be enough to confirm qualification, while Slovakia needed all three to leapfrog them and push Germany into the play-offs. Any hope of that was quickly extinguished in Leipzig.

Woltemade, who netted a brace against Luxembourg on Friday, opened the scoring with a powerful header from Joshua Kimmich’s pinpoint cross. Serge Gnabry soon extended the advantage, steering Leon Goretzka’s clever through ball into the bottom corner.

Leroy Sané made it three before half-time, coolly tucking in a superb pass from Florian Wirtz. The pair combined again moments later, Sané guiding in a low cross to give Germany a commanding 4–0 lead at the interval.

The hosts eased off in the second half but still found room to add to the tally. Ridle Baku struck Germany’s fifth, his first international goal since 2021, after good work from Gnabry, before debutant Assan Ouedraogo fired in a sixth just minutes after coming off the bench.

While Germany’s attacking fluency stole the spotlight, the victory also delivered a fourth consecutive clean sheet. Slovakia’s best chance came at 1–0, but Oliver Baumann reacted superbly to block David Duris from close range. Beyond that moment, the visitors rarely troubled Germany’s back line and now face the play-offs after a heavy defeat.