The international break is nearly over, and so is the European leg of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. By Tuesday night, we will know all the automatic qualifications for the quadrennial event as the latest round of fixtures winds up. As for Monday, the action will start and end with six simultaneous games, including Germany vs Slovakia at the Red Bull Arena.
Germany could not have asked for a worse start to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, losing 2-0 to Slovakia. However, since then, Julian Nagelsmann’s men have been impressive, winning four successive matches while scoring ten goals and conceding only once. The run of results has taken Die Mannschaft to the top of Group A, ahead of Slovakia on goal difference.
As for Slovakia, the Falcons were hot off the blocks in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, beating Germany in the opening round of fixtures. However, the loss to Northern Ireland last month has left Francesco Calzona and his charges behind Germany on goal difference, making Monday’s clash a must-win encounter.
As iterated earlier, Slovakia beat Germany 2-0 in the reverse fixture, with David Hancko and David Strelec finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Julian Nagelsmann has a new roster issue that is hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Said El Mala has left the camp to join the under-21 squad, with the teenage prospect becoming the second player, after Nadiem Amiri, to withdraw from the group.
Additionally, Germany’s head coach has two fitness issues to worry about ahead of the game vs Slovakia on Monday. Nagelsmann is sweating over the fitness of Nico Schlotterbeck and captain Joshua Kimmich, with the duo recovering from ankle injuries.
Oliver Baumann is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Germany lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Slovakia on Monday. The backline will feature Ridle Bake, Jonathan Tah, Waldemar Anton, and David Raum.
As for the midfield unit, Leon Goretzka and Aleksandar Pavlovic will pair up in the double pivot, with Florian Wirtz reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Nick Woltemade will lead the line for Germany against Slovakia, with Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Baumann; Baku, Tah, Anton, Raum; Goretzka, Pavlovic; Gnabry, Wirtz, Sane; Woltemade
Unlike his counterpart in the German dugout, Francesco Calzona has no new concerns to worry about ahead of the trip to the Red Bull Arena. Slovakia’s head coach has a full-strength squad ahead of the game vs Germany on Monday.
Martin Dubravka will retain his usual spot between the sticks, with Slovakia lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Germany. The backline should feature Norbert Gyomber, David Hancko, Adam Obert, and captain Milan Skriniar.
As for the midfield unit, Stanislav Lobotka will hold the fort in the middle of the park, with Matus Bero and Tomas Rigo providing the forward thrust from the central areas. Finally, David Strelec will spearhead Slovakia’s attack against Germany, with Lukas Haraslin and David Duris completing the numbers in the offensive third.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Gyomber, Skriniar, Obert, Hancko; Bero, Lobotka, Rigo; Duris, Strelec, Haraslin
While David Strelec, Stanislav Lobotka, and Florian Wirtz were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Nick Woltemade as the Player to Watch for Monday’s clash at the Red Bull Arena between Germany and Slovakia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
The 23-year-old has been excellent thus far in the 2025/26 season, and he has also been hot off the blocks in his international career. Woltemade has three goals and one assist in seven outings for Germany, and his match-winning brace earned Die Mannschaft a 2-0 win over Luxembourg this week. Expect the Newcastle United star to deliver the goods again in the final third.
With automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the line, neither team will leave anything in the bag on Monday. A closely-contested affair is on the cards, and the battle in the middle of the park will determine which side comes out on top.
With Germany displaying impeccable defensive solidity, the hosts should have the quality to keep Slovakia at bay for long stretches. So, even though the away side will take the game to Die Mannschaft, they will narrowly fall short of the desired result. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Julian Nagelsmann and his charges, with Nick Woltemade making the difference again.
