The goal brought back memories of the spark that sparked the summer fairytale. Füllkrug scored against Switzerland like Neuville once did against Poland – late and important. The Dortmund bonus should now follow.
This header goal in injury time by Niclas Füllkrug reminded many of the 2006 World Cup summer fairytale. “That was a small explosion,” said the 31-year-old attacker to the volume of the cheers in Frankfurt’s European Championship stadium after his goal in injury time to make it 1:1 against Switzerland and thus win the group for the German national team. It was the emotional crowning moment of the preliminary round for the DFB team.
18 years ago, it was the second group match in Dortmund when striker Oliver Neuville, as a joker in the penalty area, slid wildly into a cross from fellow substitute David Odonkor and pushed it over the goal line with his foot to make it 1-0 against the Poles.
Back then, too, injury time was already running and a storm of cheers went through the stadium. “They both came off the bench and did the one decisive thing,” said Füllkrug, comparing the 2006 World Cup with the 2024 European Championship. “That could have been a turning point,” said the attacker.
Cross space, header fullness – a goal with announcement
This time, too, it was a double joker goal. It was substitute David Raum who curled the ball onto Füllkrug’s head from the left with a lot of power and cut. For the 26-year-old from Leipzig, it was a goal with a message in his first tournament appearance, as he revealed after the game: “I said to Fülle during the warm-up: If we both come on today, you’ll know when I get the ball. The cross was blocked twice, the third came through – and Fülle put it in superbly.”
His 13th goal in 19 international matches was not only a “very important moment” for Füllkrug personally in the third tournament match, but also one “for the country, for us, for the team, for the players”. And he ensured that Borussia Dortmund’s super-sub can now play the next match in his home stadium.
“I’m really looking forward to a round of 16 in Dortmund because that can be a huge home advantage,” said the Borussia Dortmund professional. The opponent will then be the second-placed team in Group C, which includes England, Denmark, Slovenia or Serbia.
Source: Stern
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