Germany
Denmark
Uwe Seeler, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Miroslav Klose, Gerd Müller… These illustrious scorers have made the Mannschaft famous throughout the generations. But for several years Germany has been looking for a center forward capable of following in their footsteps.
Since the international retirement of Klose (top scorer in the history of the World Cup with sixteen goals) after the 2014 World Cup, the role was first entrusted to Timo Werner, who has never convinced in the national team. If Kai Havertz is favored by coach Julian Nagelsmann, it is another face that has emerged recently.
Novice in the selection before the 2022 World Cup, Niclas Füllkrug has gradually become Germany’s major asset in front of the opposing goal. And this by being clinical in his choices, like the two goals scored during this Euro, a powerful strike against Scotland or the header against Switzerland to snatch the equalizer (1-1) and first place in Pool A.
Holder or substitute, he always stands out
He who broke through late seems, at 31, to be at the height of his powers. In 19 selections, he scored 13 goals. He comes on during the game (thirteen times), he scores (seven times)! He is a starter (six times), he scores (five times)!
“He gives arguments for both situations: continue to play the role of joker, which he does very well, or start the match. For him, it is at the same time a joy and a sorrow that he fulfills both roles well”a souligné Julian Nagelsmann.
“I would sign immediately to be European champion, even if I continue to come off the bench. The coach has always said that nothing is set in stone. He also makes his decisions based on the opponent.”the main person concerned said in an interview with MagentaTV.
Better performance than Gerd Müller
“The offensive performance he offers is incredible and can probably only be compared to that of Gerd Müller”enthused Germany’s sporting director, Rudi Völler, in the columns of the weekly on Wednesday. Sport-Image.
The comparison with the “Bomber” seems exaggerated and flattering, but on closer inspection, Niclas Füllkrug finds the net in the selection every 58 minutes, when Gerd Müller, over his entire career (62 matches) scored a goal every 81 minutes.
Niclas Füllkrug’s trajectory has resembled a fairy tale for two seasons, after a chaotic start. Before the World Cup in Qatar, in November and December, the center forward had more matches in the German second division than in the Bundesliga (135 against 112).
Victim of a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee at the end of September 2019, he finished the 2022-2023 season, with Bremen, as co-top scorer in the German championship (16 goals).
A thunderous end to the season with Dortmund
Thanks to his performances, he joined one of the two behemoths of German football, Borussia Dortmund, a transfer at the very end of the summer transfer window that will take time to completely digest.
It was at the end of the 2023-2024 season that the Füllkrug machine was launched at full speed: scorer in the Champions League against Atlético Madrid in the quarter-final second leg and against Paris SG in the semi-final first leg. In the final, he made the Real defense live a nightmare thanks to his power, however missing the opening goal before Madrid’s realism took away the hopes of the BVB supporters.
For the round of 16 against Denmark, he will return to Dortmund and its legendary stadium, which has become his new garden since the summer of 2023.
This Saturday June 29 at 9 p.m., on TF1 and beIN Sports 1.
