Florian Wirtz Under Scrutiny as Germany Win but Questions Linger
Florian Wirtz’s early Liverpool career has been anything but quiet. The spotlight was always going to follow a £100m signing, yet both England and Germany appear united on one topic, that the 22-year-old has found life difficult in recent weeks.
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His latest appearance for Germany in a tight World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland only intensified the noise. While Julian Nagelsmann’s side secured a narrow victory, German outlets unanimously dissected Wirtz’s influence, or lack thereof, with a tone that bordered on relentless.
Media Reaction Across Germany
There was no soft landing for the Liverpool midfielder.
Welt wrote, “His technically fine moves weren’t capitalised on by his teammates. He now has to work hard for his footballing fortunes at Liverpool.”
Bild added, “The new Liverpool player, who is under fire in the UK, seemed to be putting in a lot of effort, as he did against Luxembourg, but he continues to be a concern in the German national team kit and isn’t a decisive factor. He was booed by the opposing fans after a slight fall. He didn’t have a compelling moment in the first half. He sent Adeyemi through, but he missed.”
Photo: IMAGO
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Sport.de followed a similar theme, stating, “He was intensely harassed by his opponents and, as a Premier League player, drew boos from the crowd. In a disjointed match, he was effectively robbed of his strengths for long stretches. While he occasionally resolved situations in tight spaces well, he almost never posed a threat.”
The statistics tell a more sympathetic story. Across 89 minutes, he completed 92 percent of his 39 passes and created two chances, including one for Karim Adeyemi. His six passes into the final third showcased intent but, as Focus.de noted, “He tried hard, but repeatedly held onto the ball for too long.”
SZ perhaps delivered the most stinging reflection. “Someone needs to hand him a ladder so he can get himself out of this slump. Anyone who knows Bayer Leverkusen’s Wirtz will wonder what they actually did with this footballer in Liverpool.”
Pressure Growing Ahead of Liverpool Return
What makes this situation intriguing is how much of it is perception. Anyone who watched Wirtz closely at Bayer Leverkusen knew he thrived on rhythm and familiarity. At Liverpool and for Germany, he is still waiting for that connection. Arne Slot has already shown an ability to rehabilitate confidence, and the structure of his midfield demands creativity. The system should eventually suit Wirtz, not isolate him.
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At international level, Nagelsmann has not withdrawn his trust either. There are no suggestions of rotation or dropping. Instead, there is insistence that Germany continue playing through him. That offers encouragement for Liverpool fans wondering whether this form is temporary or structural.
Long-Term Outlook Still Positive
Expectation magnifies everything at Liverpool. Every miscontrolled touch becomes a debate about value. Every substitution becomes a rallying point for pundits. Yet Wirtz is still creating chances, still progressing the ball and still drawing attention from defenders. That alone suggests he has not disappeared from matches, only fallen short of dictating them.
Germany may be impatient. Liverpool may be demanding. Florian Wirtz remains gifted enough to satisfy both, provided he is granted time rather than judgement.
