Germany pulverise Bosnia 7-0 to seal top spot in Nations League group
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Germany's Florian Wirtz celebrates scoring their fifth goal with Tim Kleindienst.
PHOTO: REUTERS
FREIBURG – Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann was pleased with his team’s intensity, as they dismantled visitors Bosnia and Herzegovina 7-0 on Nov 16 with a statement win.
Two goals apiece from Florian Wirtz and Tim Kleindienst helped to secure top spot in Nations League Group A3 with a game to spare.
The Germans, who had already qualified for the quarter-finals, are on 13 points with the Netherlands in second place on eight, and are eager to re-establish themselves as an international force ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
“We have no injuries from the game and our counter-pressing was extraordinarily good,” said Nagelsmann after their biggest win since he took over in 2023. “And then to score seven goals against an opponent sitting so deep is something.
“We wanted to win possession and then quickly play the ball forward, be quick in transition and find those runs, something we did not do often enough at the Euros (in June). We did it well.”
Germany, who travel to Budapest to face Hungary on Nov 19 for their last group match, took the lead with in-form Jamal Musiala’s header after only 90 seconds.
The Bayern Munich attacking midfielder has now scored in his third straight game for club and country.
Everything seemed to be working seamlessly for the hosts and they doubled their lead with Kleindienst’s first Germany goal in the 23rd minute, after the Borussia Monchengladbach striker turned in Robert Andrich’s shot.
Kai Havertz twice came close in an explosive first half, before getting on the scoresheet in the 37th minute after a quick one-two with Wirtz, who bagged their fourth goal five minutes after the restart with a dipping free kick that caught Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj off guard.
With Bosnia’s defence in complete disarray and unable to handle their opponents’ speed, the hosts showed no signs of easing off and kept pouring forward.
Wirtz tapped in at the far post in the 57th minute for his second goal, before substitute Leroy Sane made it half a dozen goals for Germany nine minutes later.
The Bosnians’ misery was complete in the 79th minute when Kleindienst slid in to make it 7-0.
Their coach Sergej Barbarez said: “We can talk about tactics, the plan, everything.
“But if we don’t have a little courage, and we saw from the beginning that we had too much respect for them, you concede a goal in the first, second minute, and at the beginning of the second half.
“So everything you prepared... (it is gone) because these things affect them.”
In Group B1, Georgia drew 1-1 at home to Ukraine to stay two points ahead of the last-placed visitors.
The Czech Republic drew 0-0 in Albania and remain top of the group on eight points, one ahead of Georgia in second and the third-placed Albanians.
Turkey stayed top of Group B4 with a 0-0 draw at home to Wales, while Iceland beat Montenegro 2-0. Turkey were presented with a golden opportunity to increase their two-point lead over Wales, but Kerem Akturkoglu sent his 89th-minute penalty wide. AFP, REUTERS
