The smile returned to the RheinEnergieStadion thanks to Nadiem Amiri

The Mainz striker Nadiem Amiri, scored his first goal for the Mannschaft, a key factor in the victory over Northern Ireland 1-3 in Cologne.

The Mainz striker scored his first goal for the Mannschaft, a key factor in the victory over Northern Ireland.

The German national team needed answers after the painful defeat to Slovakia (2-0) and, against Northern Ireland in Cologne, they got them. The final 3-1 brought smiles again, but more importantly, it revealed a truth that is often forgotten: football is a sport of details and, many times, the matter of a footballer who will change the rhythm. For Julian Nagelsmann, that footballer was called Nadiem Amiri.

The first half showed a Germany divided. The quick inspiration of Woltemade that led to Gnabry’s 1-0 (7’) was not followed up, since defensive naivety allowed Price to equalize (34’). The atmosphere in the RheinEnergieStadion was full of anxiety. The thought of a second misstep in three days loomed ominously. Despite controlling the game, the “National Team” could not find solutions in the final pass.

For a Germany team aiming to equal Brazil’s record of five World Cup victories in just 10 months, a 2-0 defeat by Slovakia on Thursday represented a nightmarish start to this qualifying campaign.

Amiri

That’s when Amiri (born 27 October 1996) entered the pitch, bringing with him the energy that had been so lacking. From his first touch, the 28-year-old Mainz attacking midfielder gave the impression that he knew exactly what to do: simplify the game, demand the ball, move into the space that the Irish could not control. It is no coincidence that the second goal came from his own move. Raum crossed a cross that seemed to have been lost, but Bayer's run pulled the goalkeeper out of position and Amiri found himself in front of an empty net. He executed with composure and, more than the 2-1 (69'), brought the calm that his team so badly needed.

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From that moment on, the German national team became a different team. The pressure disappeared, the confidence returned and the crowd started singing again. The third goal, a masterpiece free kick from Florian Wirtz (72'), was the icing on the cake, but the real turning point had already been made. Amiri was not just a scorer; he was the catalyst who gave movement to the midfield, connection between the lines and courage to the attacking plan.

In a team often accused of lacking personality when the going gets tough, Amiri's arrival is an example of how the role of the "change-player" can define an entire evening. Nagelsmann needs such players, not just for depth in the squad but to transform the game when stagnation threatens to swallow the team.

The 3-1 win was a victory that Germany should have won. But their real gain was the emergence of a player who has proven himself to be worth counting on consistently. The road to the 2026 World Cup is long, but if we learned anything in Cologne, it is that this team has solutions from the bench that can make a difference. And Amiri's name was first on the list.