Niclas Füllkrug gave Germany a chance to reach the round of 16 at the World Cup with his powerful goal against Spain. The player from Bremen should already wear the “9” on the pitch at kick-off against Costa Rica.
Thomas Müller showed understanding that the cameras swung around. The FC Bayern Munich professional, world champion, winner of the Champions League and, and, and …, left the field for a second time in the interview area of the Al Bayt stadium for Niclas Füllkrug, who has two promotions to the Bundesliga with his successes: one with Hannover 96, one with Werder Bremen last season.
The division of labor between the two had worked according to plan. Müller ran and ran and ran as a central striker at the Spaniards and after them, Füllkrug shot and shot and shot. It was actually three shots on goal that Bremen fired, three more than Müller, who ran for 70 minutes.
“If he brings me, he wants to have a goal threat and presence in the penalty area”said Füllkrug about the obvious thoughts of national coach Hansi Flick.
Füllkrug’s goal secures an important point
Füllkrug’s goal, which secured the German national team a 1-1 draw against Spain and thus an enormously important point on the way to the round of 16 of the World Cup, was the work of a centre-forward. “Compliments on how he did it. He hit him with full instep”praised sports show expert Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Hansi Flick also liked this: “He sunk the ball with determination. Those are things that make a striker.” However, it is also more important to have at least a solid technique in receiving and taking the ball. The short pass from Jamal Musiala was placed by Füllkrug so perfectly with his left foot on the right that the powerful shot was only possible without giving the Spanish defense a chance to intervene decisively.
Filling pitcher: Three internationals, two goals
Füllkrug, who has zero appearances in Europe, now has three internationals and two goals. The one in the test against Oman will enrich the statistics, the one against Spain at the World Cup could be the key to the round of 16.
Germany has it in its own hands on Thursday (12/01/2022). However, a very big win against Costa Rica may be needed to prevent a failure in the preliminary round like in 2018. “If we need the goal difference then we have to see that we do it that way”said Flick.
This order should then be directed primarily to Niclas Füllkrug, who is called “fullness” because of his name and “gap” because of the gap in his teeth.
The probability that the Bremen player will be in the starting XI against Costa Rica is high. If a responsible person from the entourage of the German Football Association (DFB) suggests the opposite in the coming days, a petition from fans, media and experts threatens. “Courage to ‘gap'”, something like that.
DFB team has a “nine” again
The German national team has a “nine” again, which even has it as a number on the jersey.
Niclas Füllkrug is, at least for the moment, the solution that the DFB’s elite selection has been looking for for a long time. He’ll probably be the same against Costa Rica, after which there might be knockout games. Enthusiasm can quickly change again. Hardly anyone could predict what will happen in a year and then only a few months before the European Championships in Germany with Niclas Füllkrug’s career in the national team.
However, what happened exactly a year before his goal against Spain is documented. Füllkrug scored for Werder Bremen, but his team lost 2-1 at Holstein Kiel and slipped to tenth place in the Bundesliga 2 table.
Shortly before, Werder had fired coach Markus Beginn because he had falsified his vaccination card. Füllkrug will have gotten over it quickly, he also admitted that it “interpersonal mismatch” have.
Suspension in October 2021
At the time, there were a few things that didn’t fit in Niclas Füllkrug’s football career. In October 2021, he was suspended for a few days because he openly gave Clemens Fritz, the head of the professional department, his opinion and got it a little wrong.
Under Markus Beginning, Füllkrug was often only used as a substitute because the coach relied on a striker, and his name was usually Marvin Ducksch.
Up with Werder coach Werner
With a delay of a good year, Ducksch’s previous commitment was the ticket for Füllkrug to the World Cup. The new coach Ole Werner consistently relied on two strikers who shot Werder back into the Bundesliga and there to a good mid-table position.
Months ago, the harmonious attacking relationship led to the quiet question of whether Füllkrug would not be one for the national team. Now the question is whether he will start in a very important game at the World Cup.