For Nick Woltemade it all comes down to the same thing.
What a start to the season.
Scoring goals in the Premier League, Champions League and now World Cup qualifying.
What a match for Nick Woltemade to score the first goal for his country.
With World Cup qualifying group A seeing three of the four teams level after three of the six rounds played, Big Nick stepped up.
After 31 minutes a corner came in on the right flank and Nick Woltemade shot highest and headed (‘slight’ suspicion from his shoulder…watch the goal below) the only goal of the match.
It was a tough game in Belfast, with huge efforts from both sides, but very few chances created. Germany with only one other effort on target, three in total for Northern Ireland.
Nick Woltemade has made a real change, as have the rest of the German team, and now have a place in the 2026 World Cup final squarely in their hands.
The Newcastle United striker only came off in the final seconds and was replaced in the 92nd minute.
A final score of Northern Ireland 0 Germany 1 and this is how Whoscored’s automated ratings rated the people involved:
As you can see, Nick Wolte (7.4) was the third highest rated player for Germany as he also contributed at the back and helped his side defend set pieces in a place where Northern Ireland is so dangerous.
Germany went into the match with Northern Ireland with six points, so this was such an important result.
Slovakia was also the other team on six points and won 2-0 at home against Luxembourg last night.
This is what Group A looks like on Tuesday morning, with two rounds left to play:
Nick Woltemade and Germany now advance to the final two rounds in November, away to Luxembourg and then their final group match at home against Slovakia. Only the group winners automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals and Germany is now in such a powerful position.
A man in shape 🔥
Nick Woltemade is not on the right track for the German national team 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/wi43N60gZR
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) October 13, 2025
This is the October 2025 international fixture list for Newcastle United players:
Thursday October 9
England 3 Wales 0
Anthony Gordon with an excellent first half, as did most of his teammates. England took a 3-0 lead after just twenty minutes and as the match progressed they cruised to victory making numerous substitutions. Gordon is the only one of the front six to play the full game, while Dan Burn is an unused sub.
Friday October 10
South Korea 0 Brazil 5
A world-class assist from Bruno Guimaraes saw Estevao score the opener in this friendly. Joelinton remained on the bench for the entire match and Bruno dropped out after 79 minutes.
Sinnyy 4 LUXEMBOURG 0
An excellent team performance with Nick Woltemade in the lead for Germany.
The Newcastle United striker didn’t score himself but led the line so well, with his link-up play and all-round play helping to secure an impressive victory in this World Cup group qualifier.
Sweden 0 Switzerland 2
Anthony Elanga from Newcastle watches from the bench as the must-win group qualifier for the World Cup ended in defeat.
Sweden now has virtually no chance of appearing in the 2026 final.
With three group matches left to play, Sweden is eight points behind Switzerland.
Saturday October 11
Estonia 1 Italy 3
Sandro Tonali officiated this World Cup qualifying match and was named man of the match by the Italian media and Football Italia, which perfectly sums up his brilliant performance…
‘Italy had some strong players tonight, but the Newcastle United man was in a class of his own today. Harking back to the iconic Italian centre-mids of yesteryear, the 25-year-old showed his class tonight.’
Monday October 13
Northern Ireland 0 Germany 1
What a moment for Nick Woltemade to score his first goal for Germany in this World Cup group qualifier. The only goal of the match when the Newcastle United striker reaches the highest point in the 31st minute and heads in (‘slight’ suspicion that it came from his shoulder…). A tough night in Belfast, a real battle, but Germany are now so strong at the top of the group with only two games left to play. Only the group winners automatically qualify for the 2026 final. Nick Woltemade worked a 92-minute shift and only dropped out in the final seconds.
Sweden vs Kosovo (Anthony Elanga) World Cup qualifier
Tuesday October 14th
Italy vs Israel (Sandro Tonali) World Cup qualifier
Latvia v England (Anthony Gordon, Dan Burn) World Cup qualifier
Japan vs Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton) Friendly
#Nick #Woltemade #rises #highest #club #country