Friday night belonged to Florian Wirtz. On an evening when five Liverpool players were in international action across Europe, it was the German playmaker who stole every headline, commanded every highlight reel, and reminded the footballing world of exactly why Liverpool spent so heavily to bring him to Anfield last summer. Two goals, two assists, and a performance so complete and so devastating that even his own manager was left searching for superlatives. Wirtz was not just the best player on the pitch at St. Jakob-Park in Basel on Friday evening. He was arguably the best player on any pitch anywhere in the world.
Wirtz Masterclass: Switzerland 3-4 Germany
Germany arrived in Basel for a World Cup warm-up friendly in good shape, having won each of their previous five matches without conceding. Switzerland, unbeaten at home since a Nations League defeat to Spain in September 2024 and undefeated against Germany in their previous four meetings, had every reason for confidence. What unfolded was one of the most entertaining friendly matches in recent memory, a seven-goal thriller that swung back and forth across 90 breathless minutes before Wirtz, inevitably, had the final word.
Switzerland drew first blood in the 17th minute when Nottingham Forest winger Dan Ndoye cut in from the left and fired into the near post, catching Germany’s defence flat-footed. Germany’s response was swift and it came from the boot and the brain of Wirtz. Nine minutes later, the Liverpool man delivered a precise cross from the left flank that Jonathan Tah met at the back post, heading home cleanly to level the scores. It appeared Germany had steadied the ship. Then, in the 41st minute, Breel Embolo headed in Silvan Widmer’s cross to restore Switzerland’s advantage, and momentum swung once more towards the hosts. Fabian Rieder rattled the crossbar as Switzerland looked for a cushion, but in the final moments of the first half, Wirtz stepped up again. His perfectly weighted through-ball found Serge Gnabry, who danced around goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and dipped a delicate finish into the net. Two goals created, the half level at 2-2. It had been a stunning opening 45 minutes.
The second period produced more of the same drama. Germany took the lead for the first time in the 61st minute through what Wirtz himself admitted might not have gone exactly where he intended, but which was sensational nonetheless. Collecting Gnabry’s short corner from the left, Wirtz curled a looping right-footed strike that sailed over Kobel and nestled in off the underside of the crossbar. It was the kind of finish that appears instinctive from the outside but carries within it years of technical refinement and an exceptional feel for the game.
Switzerland refused to surrender. Substitute Joel Monteiro, just minutes after coming on, struck a rasping long-range effort that flew past Oliver Baumann in the 79th minute, making it 3-3 and threatening to deny Germany the victory they had worked so hard for. But Wirtz was not finished. Six minutes from time, Pascal Gross did the work on the right flank and rolled the ball across to Wirtz, who picked out the same far corner once more with another composed, precise finish. Germany won 4-3. Wirtz had scored twice and created the other two goals. He had been involved in every single one of his team’s goals. It was, by any measure, a staggering individual performance.
When asked afterwards whether it was the finest display of his international career, Wirtz was refreshingly candid. “Probably, yes. With this many goal involvements, yes. For the first goal, I’d be lying if I said I meant for it to go exactly there, but I’ll take it. On the second goal, you can see that’s exactly where I wanted the ball to go.” Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann was equally open in his assessment, praising his forward lavishly while acknowledging that the defensive side of Germany’s performance left much to be desired ahead of the World Cup. “Flo scored a couple of exceptional goals, that has to be said,” Nagelsmann said. “Defensively, things weren’t always good today. We were too passive at times. That has to be pointed out quite clearly.”
For Liverpool supporters watching from afar, the performance will have brought feelings both of pride and of gentle frustration. Wirtz has provided only four goals and two assists across 27 Premier League appearances for the Reds this season, a return that falls significantly short of the standard his transfer fee and his reputation demanded. Yet here, for Germany, removed from the weight of expectation and playing with a freedom that his club campaign has occasionally denied him, he looked like one of the most complete attacking midfielders in world football. The hope at Anfield now is that the confidence and rhythm gained from this performance carries over into Liverpool’s crucial final weeks of the domestic season.
Van Dijk Heads Netherlands to Victory Over Norway
While Wirtz was dazzling in Basel, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was producing his own commanding display on a warm Friday evening in Amsterdam. The Netherlands hosted Norway in a World Cup warm-up friendly at the Johan Cruyff Arena, and Van Dijk delivered the moment that proved decisive. Norway had taken the lead against the run of play, threatening to dampen what had been a confident Dutch display, but Van Dijk was having none of it. Rising to meet a corner from the right flank, the Liverpool skipper delivered a clinical header into the net from the edge of the six-yard box, his timing and power giving the Norwegian goalkeeper no chance. It was the kind of goal that only the very best centre-backs in the world score, a reminder that Van Dijk remains, even in his 34th year, one of the most complete defenders on the planet.
The Netherlands went on to win 2-1, with Van Dijk featuring for the full 90 minutes and once again demonstrating the leadership and defensive authority that has made him indispensable both for club and country. Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch each started and played 82 minutes for Ronald Koeman’s side, with both contributing solidly to a performance that will have given Dutch supporters genuine encouragement ahead of the summer tournament. Jeremie Frimpong remained an unused substitute, his game time managed carefully ahead of what is expected to be a pivotal final stretch of the Premier League season with Liverpool.
Kelly’s Educational Evening in Jakarta
Not every Liverpool player had cause for celebration on Friday. Academy midfielder Kyle Kelly played the full 90 minutes for St. Kitts and Nevis as they faced Indonesia in Jakarta as part of the FIFA Series, with the Caribbean nation beaten 4-0 by their hosts. For Kelly, the experience of international football at any level remains an invaluable part of his development, and the opportunity to represent his country across an extended trip to Southeast Asia is one that will leave a lasting impression regardless of the scoreline.
Friday’s results, taken together, painted a picture of Liverpool’s squad at its broadest and most diverse. From the heights of Basel to the heat of Jakarta, the Reds’ players carried their club’s name across the globe. When they return to Anfield in early April, with seven Premier League games remaining and a Champions League quarter-final on the horizon, Arne Slot will be hoping that the brilliance Wirtz showed on Friday and the leadership Van Dijk displayed in Amsterdam are the form guides for what is coming next.
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YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone)!
The Liverpool FC Times Team
LiverpoolFCTimes.com