Northern Ireland vs Germany Predictions

• Northern Ireland are unbeaten in seven home games, scoring 15 times
• Germany’s only clean sheet in 2025 came at home to Luxembourg
• NI have scored in each of their previous 10 internationals

Germans face tough test in buoyant Belfast

Monday night’s clash at Windsor Park is a milestone for Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill, in more ways than one. His 100th game across two spells with the national side is a landmark given that NI are holding their own in a competitive race for top spot in Group A.

O’Neill’s second spell has mirrored his first, which saw him lead Northern Ireland to the last 16 of Euro 2016. He’s hoping for a place at the World Cup 10 years on, having once again navigated through early struggles to build a competitive side.

O’Neill’s side really held their own in Cologne last month, striking back after an early opener and holding Germany level until the 69th minute. That good display should remove the fear factor for his side, while there’s a new wave of optimism around Windsor Park following a string of good results and performances.

Friday’s 2-0 win over Slovakia was hailed as the best performance under either of O’Neill’s spells by record goalscorer David Healy. It had all the hallmarks of what O’Neill has added to his second side, with the team looking more confident in possession and ambitious going forward than his charges at Euro 2016.

NI have an attacking edge

NI have now scored in 10 straight internationals, while they’ve lost only five games in 18 matches since a 2-0 victory over Denmark in November 2023, considered a turning point following a run of seven defeats in eight Euro 2024 qualifiers.

NI have failed to score only twice across those 18 games, while three of their five defeats were away friendlies. The hosts are unbeaten in seven at Windsor Park, scoring 15 times in that run.

They meet a German side that lost 2-0 in Slovakia in their first away game in this campaign, while their home win over Luxembourg on Friday ended a seven-game run without a clean sheet.

Julian Nagelsmann’s critique of NI’s approach in Cologne adds an edge to that atmosphere, while his side haven’t looked entirely convincing throughout 2025. They were punished from a set piece in the reverse fixture, which makes Dan Ballard an interesting anytime goalscorer option after a good run for Sunderland.

Germany’s defensive issues should be exploited by a Northern Ireland side who are no longer built to sit back for a 0-0. Given the hosts’ impressive unbeaten run at home and Germany’s return of three wins from eight matches, back NI to learn from their loss last month with a 1-1 draw.