Conor Bradley of Northern Ireland is looking forward to facing his Liverpool teammate Florian Wirtz in a World Cup qualifier against Germany. Bradley aims to challenge Wirtz and is also focused on securing his place in the Liverpool squad after recovering from an injury. He acknowledged Germany’s recent loss but remains wary of their quality. The match presents an opportunity for Northern Ireland to capitalize on an open qualifying pool.
Northern Ireland's Conor Bradley is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to face his new Liverpool teammate, Florian Wirtz, when Northern Ireland clashes with Germany in a crucial World Cup qualifying match this Sunday. The young defender is keen to test his mettle against one of Europe's brightest talents. The match is set to take place at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne.
Wirtz, a highly-touted midfielder, made a high-profile move to Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen in June, with the transfer fee reported to be around £116 million. The German international has quickly integrated into Arne Slot's squad, featuring in three Premier League games already this season and showing glimpses of his immense potential.
Interestingly, Bradley and Wirtz have yet to share the pitch as teammates. Bradley's return from a hamstring injury saw him replace Wirtz during a match against Newcastle United last month. However, Sunday's World Cup qualifier promises a direct confrontation between the two Liverpool players, with Bradley likely tasked with containing Wirtz's attacking threat on the flank.
"Florian's a top player, there's a reason we bought him for the money we did," Bradley acknowledged, highlighting the quality of his clubmate. He also recalled his first Northern Ireland goal against Scotland in March 2024, against his Liverpool teammate Andy Robertson. "He's obviously had a brilliant few years at Leverkusen, and now he's come to us, and I think he started the season really well. He's really good with the ball, he's really creative, and he's not scared to take a few risks with the ball as well."
Bradley is fully aware of the challenge that awaits him, but he is equally determined to make life difficult for Wirtz. "He's a top player, and I know it's going to be a difficult night for me, but hopefully, I can make it a difficult night for him too," he stated, exuding confidence and a competitive spirit.
Image source, Getty ImagesBradley [right] made his comeback from injury as a replacement for Wirtz against Newcastle United last month
Bradley's determination to face Wirtz head-on stems not only from his competitive nature but also from his desire to regain his place in the Liverpool squad. After a frustrating start to the season, where he was sidelined with a hamstring injury, Bradley is eager to prove his worth to manager Arne Slot and stake his claim for the right-back position. His only 10 minutes appearance for Liverpool this season have been frustrating, but he hopes to put that behind him.
The Northern Ireland international acknowledged the disappointment of missing out on valuable playing time due to the injury. "It was really disappointing to pick up the injury when I did," he said. "Obviously, it wasn't a big injury, it was only a few weeks, but it was really disappointing. I'm just happy to be back now."
With Trent Alexander-Arnold's recent move to Real Madrid, the right-back spot at Liverpool is now up for grabs, presenting Bradley with a golden opportunity to establish himself in the team. However, he is aware that he needs to manage his return carefully and ensure that he does not aggravate his injury. "I have to show patience, and I just have to pace myself through games to make sure I get through them and just look after myself," he explained.
Furthermore, Bradley commented on Germany's recent surprising defeat to Slovakia, which has opened up the race to qualify for the World Cup from Pool A. "Shocked, probably, to start with," he confessed when he heard the news of Slovakia's win. "I think you can look at it both ways. I think it's good and bad. Obviously, that means the group's wide open now, which is good for us [and] if we can get a positive result, it's only good for us."
Despite Germany's recent struggles, with three consecutive defeats, Bradley remains wary of their quality and the threat they pose. "It's going to be a really difficult test. Germany are one of the top nations in the whole world," he acknowledged. "They've got some top players, so it's always nice going up against top players and seeing where you're at compared to them. Obviously with the result the other night for them, they're going to be bang at it from the start so we've got to stick together and I think we're in with a good chance."
The stage is set for an intriguing encounter between Northern Ireland and Germany, with Conor Bradley eager to seize his opportunity and make a statement against his Liverpool teammate, Florian Wirtz.