Callum Marshall was introduced as a second-half substitute in Northern Ireland’s 3-1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying Group A defeat in Germany on Sunday evening.
The West Ham United striker replaced Ethan Galbraith with 14 minutes to play at the RheinEnergieSTADION in Cologne with his side trailing 3-1.
West Bromwich Albion’s Isaac Price had given Northern Ireland hope of pulling off a shock result when he equalised an opening Germany goal scored by Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry before half-time.
However, the home side restored order through goals from Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri and Liverpool new boy Florian Wirtz in the second half.
Marshall was then sent on by manager Michael O’Neill for his 12th senior cap, but the 20-year-old could not spark an unlikely late comeback.
After winning 3-1 away in Luxembourg on matchday one of six, Northern Ireland now sit second in Group A behind surprise leaders Slovakia, who followed up their 2-0 home win over Germany last Thursday with a dramatic late 1-0 away victory in Luxembourg on Monday.
Germany are third, level with Northern Ireland on goal difference but below them on goals scored, four to three.
Northern Ireland have two home games in the next international window, against Slovakia on Friday 10 October and Germany on Monday 13 October, before finishing Group A with a trip to Slovakia and home game with Luxembourg in November.
The group winners qualify automatically for next summer’s tournament in North America, while the runners-up go into play-offs.
