Luxury substitute or starter? Regardless of his role, Niclas Füllkrug can continue to make an impression in the round of 16 of Euro 2024 against Denmark on Saturday, and fill the void left in Germany after Miroslav Klose’s international retirement. For several years, Germany has been looking for a center forward capable of following in the footsteps of the illustrious scorers who have made the Mannschaft famous across generations, from Uwe Seeler to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, obviously including Miroslav Klose, the top scorer in the history of the World Cup (16), and Gerd Müller (14 World Cup goals, third best total).
Since Klose’s international retirement (after the 2014 World Cup), the role was first entrusted to Timo Werner, who has never convinced the national team. While Kai Havertz is favoured by coach Julian Nagelsmann, another face has emerged recently, all smiles and with his gap teeth. A newcomer to the national team before the 2022 World Cup, Niclas Füllkrug has gradually become Germany’s major asset in front of the opposing goal, clinical in his choices, like the two goals scored at Euro 2024, a powerful strike against Scotland or a header against Switzerland to snatch the equaliser (1-1) and first place. He who broke through late seems to be at the height of his powers at 31 years old.
A goal every 58 minutes
In 19 caps, he scored 13 goals. He comes on as a substitute (13 times), he scores (seven times)! He starts (six times), he scores (five times)!He gives arguments for both situations: continuing to play the role of joker, which he does very well, or starting 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 straight away 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.“, slipped the main interested party in an interview with the paid broadcaster in Germany MagentaTV.
Niclas Füllkrug scored a magnificent 4-0 against Scotland
Credit: Getty Images
“The offensive output he offers is incredible and can probably only be compared to that of Gerd Müller.“, enthused Germany’s sporting director Rudi Völler on Wednesday in the columns of the weekly Sport-Bild. The comparison with the “Bomber” seems exaggerated and flattering, but when you look at it, “Fülle”, one of his many nicknames, finds the back of the net in the national team every 58 minutes, while 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.
Launched by the Champions League
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 2022/23 season with Bremen with the title of joint top scorer in the German championship (16 goals). 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 season that the Füllkrug machine was launched at full speed, scoring in the Champions League against Atlético Madrid in the quarter-final second leg and Paris SG in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League. 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.
