Berlin, March 31 (IANS) Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann faces growing concerns over his striking options ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with no clear first-choice forward emerging.
Nagelsmann travelled to Eindhoven to watch group opponent Ecuador in a friendly against the Netherlands, but questions persist over Germany’s attacking line, particularly the lack of a reliable penalty-box striker.
The coach has been relying on Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade, Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, and Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav. However, Woltemade and Havertz have struggled for form at the club level, while Nagelsmann has indicated he sees Undav as a backup option, reports Xinhua.
Woltemade remains in a dip in form, and Havertz is working his way back after a lengthy injury absence. Of Germany’s attacking midfielders, Galatasaray’s Leroy Sane and Bayern Munich pair Serge Gnabry and Lennart Karl have also lacked consistency.
Karl, 18, showed promise in Monday’s 2-1 win over Ghana, but attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz has been the brightest spark, producing two goals and two assists in last week’s 4-3 victory over Switzerland, despite mixed form at club level with Liverpool.
Undav, meanwhile, has impressed for Stuttgart, registering 23 goals and 13 assists in 38 appearances, and scoring a late winner for Germany in Stuttgart. Yet Nagelsmann has suggested the forward is most effective as an impact substitute. “I told the players about their roles,” Nagelsmann said, adding that Undav “can only be effective as a substitute,” as “things get harder for him when he plays over 90 minutes.”
Tensions have also surfaced among supporters. Sane was booed by German fans during the Ghana match, while Undav received strong backing from the home crowd. Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was also jeered after a series of errors.
Nagelsmann has drawn criticism for continuing to back Sane and Rudiger, while expressing confidence in Karl. “He is in the game right away. He must continue with that and gain minutes at Bayern,” the coach said.
With his final World Cup squad to be named on May 12, Sane’s place appears uncertain, while Karl is pushing for inclusion.
Nagelsmann downplayed expectations, saying Germany is not among the tournament favourites. “But we can play a satisfying tournament,” he said, also criticising the reaction from supporters. “I don’t understand the boos. They come from German fans for German players.”
–IANS
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