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Florian Wirtz inspires Germany 4-3 comeback over Switzerland with two goals and two assists as both sides sharpen World Cup preparations in a thrilling friendly.
Florian Wirtz helped Germany beat Switzerland 4-3 (AP)
Germany forward Florian Wirtz scored twice, including an 86th-minute winner, and provided two assists as his team came from behind twice to beat hosts Switzerland 4-3 in a friendly on Friday, with both sides continuing their World Cup preparations.
The 22-year-old put the visitors 3-2 ahead just past the hour mark with a stunning 18-metre curling effort and then grabbed the winner with another spectacular strike from the edge of the box in an entertaining game.
Wirtz, who missed the 2022 World Cup through injury, has struggled for form in his first season at Liverpool but on Friday delivered arguably his best performance for the national team.
Wirtz’s Best-Ever Game For Germany?
“Well, with four scorer points, most likely, yes,” Wirtz said when asked if it was his best game for Germany. “We have a tight World Cup phase in front of us and we obviously want to reach the final and win the trophy, but we all know it will be a very hard road until then.”
Addressing the three goals conceded, Wirtz said it was part of the team’s development.
“No concerns there because we have a very good team and a good defence,” he said. “I think you feel that we have not played together for some time and all three goals were a little bit avoidable. But it is about winning games and if you score more goals than the opponent then it’s alright.”
Crazy Start To Game
In a pulsating first half, the hosts struck against the run of play in the 17th minute through Dan Ndoye, who capitalised on a defensive error by Nico Schlotterbeck, before Germany’s Jonathan Tah levelled with a header.
Switzerland, who are in World Cup Group B with Qatar, co-hosts Canada and a playoff winner, went ahead again in the 41st minute when Breel Embolo caught the German defence napping. The visitors equalised once more on the stroke of halftime, Serge Gnabry chipping in after a superb assist from Wirtz.
Wirtz then took matters into his own hands, curling a brilliant shot from the edge of the box into the top corner just after the hour.
This time it was the hosts’ turn to hit back, levelling in the 79th minute when Joel Monteiro beat two defenders and drilled his shot home, before Wirtz silenced the home crowd with another curling effort from just outside the box that left keeper Gregor Kobel rooted to the spot.
Plenty Of Learnings For The Swiss
“We are used to such high-scoring games against Germany and there are a lot of things we can learn from such a game,” said Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka. “Like the calmness of Germany under pressure and how they find solutions and ways out, and obviously the quality they have.”
“For us it was a very good test,” Xhaka added.
Germany have been drawn in World Cup Group E with Ecuador, Curacao and Ivory Coast.
(With inputs from Agencies)
March 28, 2026, 08:28 IST
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