Germany’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign got off to the worst possible start on Thursday night as they suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Slovakia and much of the criticism fell on new Liverpool star Florian Wirtz.
Several European giants were in action, with Belgium, Wales, and Northern Ireland all securing victories, while England are set to face Andorra on Saturday. But the biggest upset came in Group A, where hosts of Euro 2024, Germany, were beaten despite naming a full-strength lineup.
For Wirtz, the clash was his first international outing since completing his British record £116 million move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool in June. However, instead of marking the occasion with a strong performance, the midfielder became the target of brutal online backlash.
On social media, rival fans quickly questioned his price tag, with one post on X stating:
“Are you people watching Wirtz for Germany? The guy is not worth half the money Liverpool paid for him.”
Another wrote:
“Florian Wirtz is too slight & too skinny for the Premier League and is guaranteed to get bullied by more physical players. Wirtz will be the most expensive flop in the history of the Premier League.”
A costly error from Wirtz just before halftime with losing possession in midfield, which led directly to Slovakia’s opening goal and did little to help his case. Despite that, the 22-year-old still created four chances, more than any other player on the pitch.
Still, fans remained unconvinced, with some arguing his game intelligence and execution are not worth the record-breaking transfer fee. Comparisons were even made with Jack Grealish’s role at Manchester City, suggesting Wirtz may turn out to be a contributor rather than a transformative star.
Wirtz wasn’t alone in facing criticism. Germany teammate and Newcastle’s new striker Nick Woltemade also came under fire for his lack of impact as he prepares for his Premier League debut.
With Liverpool fans eager to see their new man shine and Germany already under pressure in their qualifying group, the coming weeks could be crucial for Florian Wirtz to silence the doubters.
