Germany beat Northern Ireland, France held by Iceland

Several Bayern players were in World Cup qualifier action for their country on Monday as they played their second game of October’s international break. fcbayern.com rounds up the results.

Germany win in Belfast

Germany claimed a crucial 1-0 victory in Northern Ireland as they look to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup. Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Aleksandar Pavlović, Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka made it five Bayern players who started in Belfast as Nick Woltemade struck the evening’s only goal in the first half.

Germany Northern Ireland, Karim Adeyemi, Nico Schlotterbeck, Oliver Baumann, Nick Woltemade, Jonathan Tah, Aleksandar Pavlovic, David Raum, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich, Florian Wirtz, Leon Goretzka — Joshua Kimmich (6), Jonathan Tah (4), Aleksandar Pavlović (5), Serge Gnabry (20) and Leon Goretzka (8) were the five Bayern players to start Germany’s game against Northern Ireland. | © Imago

After a poor start to qualifying with a 2-0 loss in Slovakia, Germany are now on track to make it to next summer’s finals, sitting top of Group A with nine points from four games, ahead of Slovakia on goal difference. Given how tight things are, it meant the result and not the manner of it were the priority for captain Kimmich: “We knew it was going to be wild. It was a fight and purely about the result. We all want to get into the tournament. We’ve changed where we are in the group now and have everything in our own hands. That’s what we wanted. It was an important win for us as a group.”

France held in Reykjavik

Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano’s France will have to wait until November to secure their place in Canada, Mexico and the USA after they were held to a 2-2 draw in Iceland. Les Bleus originally came from behind after Victor Palsson’s opener thanks to goals from Christopher Nkunku and Jean-Philippe Mateta, but Iceland immediately levelled through Kristian Hlynsson.

Michael Olise and France drew against Iceland on Monday. | © Getty

“It was a tough game, which we knew beforehand. We’ve got a point, but I think we could’ve played better in the first half and controlled the game more. But we’re still a few points ahead and will try to keep winning and qualify,” said Upamecano, who played the full 90 minutes alongside clubmate Olise. France top their group with 10 points from four games, three ahead of Ukraine with two matches to play.

Laimer beaten in Romania

Konrad Laimer Virgil Ghita Austria Romania — Konrad Laimer’s Austria suffered their first loss of World Cup qualifying in Romania. | © Imago

Austria played their second game of the current break on Sunday as their perfect start to qualifying was ended with a 1-0 loss in Romania. Konrad Laimer played the whole game, with Virgil Ghita striking in the 95th minute for the hosts. Ralf Rangnick’s side remain top of Group H, two points clear of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with two games left to play.

Luis Díaz was on the scoresheet on Saturday night: