Between Germany, quarter-finalist of “its” Euro-2024 at home – elimination against the future Spanish winner -, and the Netherlands, eliminated by the English in the semi-finals, it is a poster of football prestige European who awaits the 66,000 spectators at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Monday in the Nations League. After three days, the Germans have seven points on the clock, compared to five for the Dutch, upset on Friday in Budapest by Hungary (2-2 draw snatched in the last ten minutes).
A success on Monday will send the Mannschaft to play at the end of March 2025 the quarter-finals of the League of Nations, a competition which has never succeeded, launched in 2018 at the start of its continued decline after a World Cup in Russia ended in the tournament phase. groups while she was the title holder.
At the end of autumn 2023, the Germans were still dragging their spleen after a catastrophic year in terms of results (one point on average over the 11 friendly matches played), with a coach, Hansi Flick, dismissed (a first for the Germany) in the middle of a rally in September.
Since his arrival at the head of the selection, Julian Nagelsmann has undertaken to put Germany, quadruple world champion and triple European champion, back in its place in the world football hierarchy.
Deniz Undav on the ball for Germany against Bosnia-Herzegovina
Credit: Getty Images
The German autumn, with two victories at home against Hungary (5-0) and in Bosnia-Herzegovina (2-1) and a draw from Amsterdam against the Netherlands (2-2), confirms the hopes summer of a return to the forefront of the Mannschaft, which stopped during “its” Euro-2024 with a cruel defeat in the quarterfinals against Spain (2-1, ap).
Of the thirteen players launched into the international deep end by Nagelsmann since taking office, Deniz Undav is the latest to have distinguished himself. Lately called up for selection (in March 2024 at age 27) thanks to a big season with Stuttgart, Undav was initially a backup solution for Nagelsmann (he only played six minutes at the Euro), behind Niclas Füllkrug and Kai Havertz.
The native of Varel (northern Germany) rushed into the breach opened by the physical problems of Füllkrug and Havertz, for a first start in September in the Netherlands (a goal), then a second in October in Bosnia -Herzegovina (victorious double). With the retirement of Ilkay Gündogan, the place behind center forward is vacant, a position which perfectly suits Undav’s qualities as he proved on Friday in Zenica.
Dennis Undav
Credit: Getty Images
“He is extremely difficult to defend against due to his low center of gravity and he turns well against defenders, underlined Nagelsmann after the match in Bosnia-Herzegovina. There is good competition for this position, but he is someone we are happy to have with us, he is doing very well. He doesn’t need a lot of chances, that’s the key.”praised the coach, who also appreciates Undav’s character.
“He’s really cool, positive, he loves life, he does us good, on and off the pitch. Not having him would be a bad thing. He has a cool way of taking the team with him, he treats everyone the same, he does it very well”.
