The DFB team is still concerned about the striker question. Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade were unable to shine against Switzerland, and despite his form, Julian Nagelsmann had no place for Deniz Undav.
When you have Florian Wirtz in the team in the form he was in the 4-3 win against Switzerland, you don’t have to worry as much about your own offensive game. Despite his class, it will be impossible for the 22-year-old to prepare two goals and score two goals in every game. The DFB team’s attack should be carried by several shoulders, but the question remains: which striker shoulders should they be?
Havertz with “six, seven very dangerous situations”
In the first of the two pre-World Cup tests, Julian Nagelsmann tried to provide a stage for the attackers who currently need his help. Kai Havertz started and Nick Woltemade took over in the 63rd minute. Havertz couldn’t take advantage of his chance, he fired three shots on goal, his dribbling failed and he lost eight of nine duels. Woltemade shot towards goal twice and only won one of five duels against opposing players. Both remained without a sense of success.
With Havertz, the missing rhythm can be seen after he plays Arsenal FC had been out for a long time due to injury. “He has six or seven very dangerous situations. And yes, he has to be healthy and find good fitness. Then for us it’s at the same level as Florian Wirtz or Jamal Musiala.”said Nagelsmann. At the moment, however, it must be noted that Havertz is far from reaching this level.
Weak Woltemade is preferred over Undav
However, things aren’t going much better for Woltemade, who is at Newcastle United lost its regular place a long time ago. “Nick has a great rating with us, but it’s not easy in Newcastle right now”said Nagelsmann, who was hoping to make the 24-year-old feel better about “RTL”. “I say it’s advisable that Nick Woltemade gets back on track with us because things aren’t going 100 percent at Newcastle.“
Only Woltemade himself knows whether that was successful. But he also knows the joker role from the club, which would have been really good for him if it had been a personal sense of achievement. Deniz Undav has experienced a lot of these in the past few weeks and months, but it wasn’t enough to play against Switzerland.
“I have the choice to give a top striker who is in a good mood even more self-confidence or to drop a top striker who is not in a good mood at the moment.”said Nagelsmann. “Dennis is on a roll anyway. Whether he plays or not won’t change his confidence for this week.” But was the Switzerland game enough to boost Havertz and Woltemade’s confidence because of how they played?
Can Undav play against Ghana?
Before Monday’s game against Ghana (8:45 p.m., live on Erste and stream on sportschau.de), Nagelsmann has to reassess the striker question. The game will take place in Stuttgart, which should certainly not worsen Undav’s chances of being able to wear a DFB jersey for the first time since June 8, 2025 (0-2 against France). Incidentally, the 29-year-old also has a good record in this regard; he has scored three goals in six international matches and thus has a better rate than Woltemade (four goals in nine games).
Nagelsmann pointed out that the game against Switzerland wasn’t necessarily a good fit for Undav. Against Ghana (just lost 1:5 against Austria) she will most likely be predestined for the VfB striker with more ball possession. But that’s not the only reason why the question is whether the national coach can even get past him. Especially since professionals with strong performances should earn a place in the DFB team – and not have to fear that they will end up on the bench because of good form.
