International Friendly 2026 Wrap: Germany's Wirtz Stars Against Switzerland; White Jeered On Return For England

Basel, Switzerland – Florian Wirtz delivered a career-defining performance to propel Germany to a pulsating 4-3 victory over neighbors Switzerland, while England’s Ben White endured a roller-coaster return in a 1-1 draw with Uruguay as the final international friendlies before the 2026 World Cup concluded on Friday night.

Germany twice came from behind at St. Jakob-Park, and each revival was orchestrated by Liverpool’s 20-year-old attacking midfielder. After Dan Ndoye’s 17th-minute opener for the hosts, Wirtz lofted a pinpoint cross for Jonathan Tah to head the equaliser nine minutes later. Breel Embolo’s diving header restored Swiss hope in the 41st minute, yet Wirtz threaded a sumptuous pass through the Swiss back line on the stroke of halftime, allowing Serge Gnabry to dink home the 2-2.

The second half belonged to Wirtz. On 56 minutes he collected a loose clearance 30 metres out and arrowed an unstoppable right-foot drive beyond goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Joel Monteiro’s fierce 80th-minute reply briefly restored parity, but Wirtz completed his personal masterclass six minutes from time, drilling low from 18 yards for the winner and sealing a hat-trick of goal involvements.

Spain, meanwhile, underlined its summer-title credentials with a 4-0 dismantling of Serbia in a hastily rearranged fixture at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica. Mikel Oyarzabal struck either side of the interval, first smashing home after Alex Baena’s dummy and then curling a left-foot rocket from 25 metres. The Real Sociedad captain has now scored 11 times in his last 10 internationals. Debutant Víctor Muñoz added a late third, steering in Ferran Torres’s back-heeled assist, before Oyarzabal’s replacement completed the rout.

In Amsterdam, the Netherlands overcame a Norway side shorn of Erling Haaland. Andreas Schjelderup’s curling opener was cancelled by Virgil van Dijk’s towering header, and Tijjani Reijnders smashed home five minutes after the restart to secure a 2-1 Dutch win.

At Wembley, England manager Thomas Tuchel’s decision to recall Ben White four years after the defender’s mid-tournament departure from the Qatar World Cup split the crowd. White, introduced for Fikayo Tomori in the 69th minute, appeared to script redemption when he prodded in Cole Palmer’s flicked corner ten minutes from time. Yet the Arsenal man clipped Federico Viñas in the 91st minute; a VAR review confirmed the penalty and Federico Valverde converted to snatch a 1-1 draw for Uruguay, who failed to register a shot on target from open play.

The results leave all four European heavyweights with plenty to ponder ahead of the summer’s global showpiece, but none will head into it with more momentum than Wirtz’s Germany.