Michael O'Neill has expressed his anticipation for Northern Ireland's upcoming match against Germany, viewing it as a significant gauge of his team's progress. The World Cup qualifier in Cologne presents a formidable challenge, despite Germany's recent struggles.

Northern Ireland secured a 3-1 victory against Luxembourg in their opening Group A match, with goals from Jamie Reid, Shea Charles, and Justin Devenny. However, O'Neill acknowledges the considerable step up in competition against a German side eager to rebound after a 2-0 defeat to Slovakia. This unexpected loss has intensified the pressure on Germany, making them a potentially wounded opponent.

O'Neill is under no illusions about the difficulty of the task, recognizing Germany's strength and their determination to respond strongly after their setback. He believes that the match will serve as an important measuring stick for his young squad. While acknowledging the historical dominance of Germany in past encounters, O'Neill hopes his team can rise to the occasion.

Germany and Northern Ireland have a long history, with their first match taking place 67 years ago. Germany has dominated the head-to-head record, winning 13 of 19 matches, with 4 draws and only 2 Northern Ireland wins. In recent years, Germany has won the last nine consecutive matches against Northern Ireland. The most recent was a 1-0 victory at Euro 2016. They also met in Euro 2020 qualifying, with Germany winning 2-0 in Belfast and 6-1 in Germany.

O'Neill is aware that Germany will be keen to assert their dominance in Group A, where they are expected to be the frontrunners. Only the group winners automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, adding further importance to this match.

Despite the challenges, O'Neill remains optimistic. He recognizes that his squad has few Premier League players, with most playing in the Championship and League One. However, he is excited to see how his team performs against top-tier opposition. He is also buoyed by the fact that his squad has no injuries.

The manager had set the objective of securing three points from their opening two games. Having achieved that with the win over Luxembourg, O'Neill hopes they can make it a "great trip" by getting something from the Germany game.