Florian Wirtz Scores Twice as Germany Overcomes Defensive Errors to Beat Switzerland 4:3

Germany defeated Switzerland 4:3 in a World Cup test match on March 27, 2026, with Florian Wirtz delivering a standout performance of two goals and two assists to rescue a German side that struggled badly in defense throughout the evening. The match, played under the eyes of former national coach Joachim Löw, saw Germany fall behind twice before Wirtz's individual brilliance proved the decisive factor. Jonathan Tah and Serge Gnabry also scored for the DFB side, while Switzerland's goals came from Dan Ndoye, Breel Embolo, and Joel Monteiro. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann had described the fixture as "a game on equal terms" beforehand, and the final scoreline confirmed that assessment, though the manner of the victory left him visibly unhappy on the touchline.

Wirtz magic rescues Germany from defensive chaos Wirtz was the outstanding player on the pitch, setting up Tah and Gnabry for Germany's first two goals before crowning his display with two goals of his own. His first assist came from a cross that Tah converted — with help from Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel — for Tah's first international goal in his 44th appearance. The second assist was a dream pass that found Gnabry, who netted his 26th international goal. Wirtz then struck in the 62nd minute, lifting the ball over Kobel from the left edge of the penalty area after a quick corner from Gnabry, and added a curling finish into the top right corner in the 86th minute to seal the win after Switzerland's Joel Monteiro had equalized for 3:3 in the 78th minute. The Liverpool midfielder, who according to reports had long felt out of place at his club, showed no such discomfort in the national team shirt.

„We have missed Kai for ages. Of course he has to get rhythm with us. We can only give that to him in the four games up to the World Cup.” — Julian Nagelsmann via RTL

44 (appearances) — Jonathan Tah's cap count before scoring his first international goal

Germany is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is set to be hosted in North America. The DFB team enters the tournament as a four-time world champion. Julian Nagelsmann has been building a squad around a core of young attacking talent, with Wirtz emerging as one of the central figures in that project. The friendly against Switzerland on March 27 was the first of two test matches scheduled before the tournament, with a second fixture against Ghana to follow.

Schlotterbeck and Baumann endure difficult evenings at the back The defensive display was a serious concern for Nagelsmann, with Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund directly responsible for initiating both of Switzerland's first two goals through sloppy misplaced passes in buildup play. Oliver Baumann, who had just been declared Germany's World Cup goalkeeper ahead of the match, produced what sources described as his worst international appearance in his 11th cap, looking poor on Ndoye's opener to the near post and showing uncertainty throughout. The coordination between Baumann and Tah also broke down on Embolo's goal, compounding the impression of a defense that was far too easy to play through on Swiss counterattacks. Baumann was also fortunate when Augsburg's Fabian Rieder struck the crossbar in the 43rd minute. The Galatasaray winger Leroy Sané, Nagelsmann's first choice on the right wing, was completely ineffective before being substituted in the 63rd minute and could not justify his selection.

Florian Wirtz: 2, Jonathan Tah: 1, Serge Gnabry: 1

Havertz returns but Ghana test looms large for Germany Kai Havertz made his international comeback after a 16-month injury layoff, starting ahead of Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav in the central striker role, but he could not find the net despite several chances. The Arsenal forward was denied by Kobel with a shot that was too close to the center in the 13th minute, had a potential goal headed away by Manuel Akanji in the 26th minute, and sent the ball over from a promising position in the 36th minute before being replaced after approximately an hour. Woltemade, described in the sources as the best German goalscorer in World Cup qualifying, came on for Havertz and had a header chance in the 71st minute. Among other substitutes, 18-year-old Noah Karl came on for Sané in the 63rd minute and made his international debut, with Pascal Groß replacing Angelo Stiller in midfield after 80 minutes and helping secure the result. Germany's next test match against Ghana is scheduled for Monday in Stuttgart, where Nagelsmann will need significantly improved defensive cohesion if the squad is to build genuine momentum toward the World Cup in America.