Julian Nagelsmann clarified his comments about Northern Ireland, stating he intended no disrespect. Germany will face Northern Ireland in Belfast on Monday, having previously defeated them 3-1 in Cologne.
Nagelsmann had remarked that Northern Ireland's style wasn't visually appealing and involved many long balls. However, he emphasised that his remarks were meant to acknowledge their effective play.
Nagelsmann highlighted Northern Ireland's distinctive approach, noting their strategic use of long balls. "I said it may not be beautiful to watch, but the more important topic, the key topic I mentioned, is they do it really well. They play long balls with an idea," he explained. He praised their team spirit and acknowledged the difficulty in defeating them due to their solid defence and set-piece opportunities.
Germany has a strong record against Northern Ireland, remaining unbeaten in their last 13 encounters (10 wins, 3 draws). They have also secured victories in seven out of nine away matches against them, winning the last five consecutively while scoring 15 goals. Despite this impressive record, Nagelsmann anticipates a challenging match at Windsor Park.
Nagelsmann expects a tough challenge from Northern Ireland at Windsor Park. Both teams are tied with Serbia on six points in Group A. He noted that Northern Ireland's style involves covering space effectively and winning second balls through persistence. "They have a really special way [of playing] and we need every player on the pitch to defend these situations," he stated.
All smiles in camp #GAWA pic.twitter.com/yjBA20Qc6N
- Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) October 12, 2025
Northern Ireland boasts an unbeaten streak in their last seven home games across all competitions, winning six (1 draw). This resilience adds to the challenge Germany faces. Nagelsmann recalled their previous encounter against Slovakia where Northern Ireland excelled in creating pressure in the final third.
If anyone perceived his earlier comments as disrespectful, Nagelsmann expressed regret: "If anybody felt it was disrespectful, I will say sorry. I did not mean it as disrespectful; it was with a lot of respect for the team and the way they play. " His remarks underscore his admiration for Northern Ireland's tactical strengths.
