FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-ups: Wirtz takes center stage as Germany beat Switzerland 4-3

Germany forward Florian Wirtz scored two goals, including an 86th-minute winner, and set up two more as his team twice came from a goal behind to beat hosts Switzerland 4-3 in a friendly on Friday as both sides continued their World Cup preparations.

The 22-year-old Wirtz put the visiting side 3-2 just after the hour mark with a stunning curling effort from 18 yards and grabbed the winner with another spectacular strike from the edge of the penalty area in an entertaining display.

Wirtz, who missed the 2022 World Cup due to injury, struggled with form in his first season at Liverpool but played perhaps his best game for the national team on Friday.

“Well, with four scorer points, probably,” Wirtz said. “We have a tight World Cup stage ahead of us and we obviously want to reach the final and win the trophy, but we all know it will be a very difficult road until then.”

As for the three goals conceded, Wirtz said it was part of the process of coming together as a team.

“We don’t have to worry about that because we have a very good team and a good defense,” he said. «I think you get the feeling that we haven’t played together for a while and all three goals were a bit avoidable. But it’s about winning games and if you score more goals than the opponent then that’s fine.»

PULSATING FIRST HALF

In a pulsating first half, the hosts struck against the run of play in the 17th minute through Dan Ndoye after a defensive error by Nico Schlotterbeck before German Jonathan Tah equalized with a header.

The Swiss, who play in Group B for the World Cup with Qatar, are co-hosts of Canada and play-off winners, scored with their next attempt on target in the 41st minute when Breel Embolo caught the German defense napping, but the visiting side got back on level terms on the stroke of half-time thanks to Serge Gnabry’s chip after an excellent assist from Wirtz.

Wirtz then took matters into his own hands and curled a stunning shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner just after the hour mark.

This time it was the hosts’ turn to level in the 82nd minute as Joel Monteiro beat two defenders and pushed through before ‌Wirtz silenced the home crowd with another effort from just outside the penalty area, leaving ‘keeper Gregor Kobel frozen on the spot.

Germany is placed in World Cup group E with Ecuador, Curaçao and Ivory Coast.

Published on March 28, 2026