German national media give honest verdict on Florian Wirtz during embarrassing defeat to Slovakia last night
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
Liverpool players have been jetting off around the world to take part in the first international break of the season this September.
It has been a good start for the Reds in the Premier League, with three wins collected from three matches, despite some rocky performances.
Having failed to provide a goal or an assist in the league following his record-breaking move this summer, Florian Wirtz has been under the microscope in his opening months as a Liverpool player.
Some pundits have not been impressed by Wirtz as he continues to get used to the pace and intensity of the Premier League.
The 22-year-old was back in more familiar surroundings on Thursday as he played for the German national team against Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier.
However, there was no let up for Wirtz, with Germany embarrassingly beaten 2-0 by Slovakia.
With the dust settling on a real shock defeat, the national media gave their verdict on Liverpool’s No.
7.
Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images
It has been a strange few years for the German national team.
They are no longer the world power they so often have been.
Nevertheless, they should still be beating the likes of Slovakia, and Thursday’s defeat in Bratislava represents a dismal start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
READ MORE: Liverpool fans are doing something for the first time in 35 years thanks to Alexander Isak
Wirtz was certainly not to blame for the loss, but he seemingly did not do enough to change the result in his team’s favour either.
According to BILD, his performance was only good enough for a five out of ten, with a giveaway of the ball before Slovakia’s opening goal an especially poor moment.
The Liverpool man did reportedly create ‘the only truly dangerous moment’ for Germany, but fired his shot straight at the goalkeeper after making a chance for himself.
Sport1 also agree that Wirtz’s was a five out of ten display, concluding that he was ultimately ‘disappointing.’
The ‘really good solo effort’ is noted, and it’s claimed that Wirtz ‘noticeably pulled himself together’ at the start of the second-half, but soon went missing again.
Given the price-tag attached to him, there will be plenty of people willing Wirtz to fail whenever he plays this season.
So far, the former Bayer Leverkusen starlet has given those naysayers a little too much ammunition.
Nevertheless, he is a top quality player and it would be wrong to do anything like writing him off at this early stage.
Liverpool knew what they were getting with Wirtz, but there was always a chance it would take him a little time to bed in.
As for Germany, they are a shambles at present.
Wirtz is seemingly doing his best to make things happen, but in a team which is really lacking in quality, he can only do so much.