Liverpool's record signing Florian Wirtz delivered a powerful response to his critics with a stunning performance for Germany in their World Cup qualification match against Slovakia.
The 22-year-old playmaker, who joined the Reds for £116million during the summer transfer window, provided two first-half assists in Germany's comfortable victory, helping secure their place in next summer's tournament.
Masterclass in International Football
Wirtz demonstrated exactly why Liverpool invested so heavily in him, showcasing the creative vision that made him one of Europe's most sought-after talents. Within the opening 45 minutes, he set up former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane for two goals that put Germany firmly in control.
His first assist came from a perfectly weighted ball over the Slovakian defence, while his second displayed exceptional awareness as he floated a delivery to the back post for Sane to convert just before half-time. Germany led 4-0 at the break and eventually secured the draw they needed to qualify.
Answering the Critics
This commanding international display comes at a crucial time for Wirtz, who has faced increasing scrutiny since his big-money move to Anfield. The criticism reached its peak after Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City earlier this month, where former Manchester United defender Gary Neville labelled him a "problem" for Arne Slot's side.
"Wirtz is a problem, let's be clear," Neville stated. "It's an issue. To be fair, I said a few weeks ago about [Milos] Kerkez that he looks like a little boy out there. Wirtz looked like a little boy and that can't be the case."
Managerial Support Systems
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann quickly sprang to his player's defence, highlighting the challenging circumstances Wirtz has encountered since his Premier League move. "To be honest, the overall situation doesn't make it easy for Flo either," Nagelsmann explained.
"The whole club isn't as stable this year as it was last year. It's much harder to slip into the team now. If you look at the game against [Manchester] City, they were actually the worse team over the 90 minutes."
Nagelsmann emphasized that Wirtz simply needs time to adapt, a common challenge for players moving to the Premier League. He also suggested that Liverpool's finishing hasn't helped the creative midfielder's statistics, noting: "He does not create few chances, it's just that... they somehow don't like to shoot the ball in."
The Germany coach's comments highlight that Wirtz's situation requires patience and support from both club and country as he adjusts to English football's unique demands.
