Northern Ireland beaten by quick-fire double in Germany

A stunning strike from Isaac Price was not enough for Northern Ireland as second-half goals earned Germany a 3-1 World Cup qualifying win to ease the pressure on Julian Nagelsmann.

Price’s 34th-minute volley cancelled out an early goal from Serge Gnabry and gave Northern Ireland genuine hope of getting something out of the game, but quick-fire goals from substitute Nadiem Amiri and Liverpool’s £116million man Florian Wirtz settled it midway through the second half.

But though Northern Ireland left Cologne defeated, for long spells they were the ones causing Germany problems in a performance that can serve as another marker for this young side.

An effort to be proud of but it’s defeat in Germany.#GAWA #BuiltOnLegacy pic.twitter.com/FRUbkYg7vW

— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) September 7, 2025

Germany came into the contest reeling from Thursday’s shock 2-0 defeat in Slovakia, their third consecutive defeat leading to stinging criticism of Nagelsmann in the German press.

They quickly set about dominating the ball in the early stages and took a seventh-minute lead through Gnabry, Northern Ireland’s nemesis six years ago when he scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win in Frankfurt.

After Eoin Toal lost the ball, Nick Woltemade quickly played in Gnabry, who barged his way past Justin Devenny before lifting the ball over helpless goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

Newcastle new boy Woltemade had a couple of opportunities himself as the one-way traffic continued, with Northern Ireland in danger of getting overrun. Instead the response was excellent.

Price’s quick feet forced Antonio Rudiger into a cynical block which earned the Real Madrid man a yellow card. It also shifted the dynamic. Paddy McNair headed over from Devenny’s