Continue with Kai Havertz or fan impulse with Niclas Füllkrug? Julian Nagelsmann has a choice in the attack before the first knockout duel with Denmark. He can’t do much wrong.
In defence, Julian Nagelsmann’s line-up for the European Championship round of 16 against Denmark is also dependent on the work and the opinion of the team doctors. Whether Antonio Rüdiger can play in Dortmund on Saturday (9 p.m./ZDF/Magenta TV) after his thigh strain is a medical question. In attack, however, the national coach himself has the choice. Stick with Kai Havertz or bring in Niclas Füllkrug? Follow your head or give in to your gut feeling? Opinions differ.
This speaks for Füllkrug:
– The goal ratio: 13 goals in 19 international matches. That’s a very good result. When Füllkrug plays, he almost always scores. Four tournament goals in five matches at the World Cup and European Championships are the next statistical figure. He scored all four as a substitute. The calculation: more playing time, more goals. Why shouldn’t he score more often in 90 minutes?
– The momentum: Nagelsmann has a good feeling for that certain something, for the flow. And who is floating through this European Championship if not the colossus Füllkrug? It feels “a bit like a summer fairy tale,” said the 31-year-old. The national coach should not waste this energy.
– The fan factor: sold-out stadium. South stand. And the Dortmund local hero on the pitch. That gives a boost and electrifies the fans. The majority of them are in favor of their “fullness” anyway, the professional you can touch. Nagelsmann could release special emotions.
This speaks for Havertz:
– The performance: Havertz’s quality is beyond question. He put in good performances in all three group matches and took responsibility for the penalty against Scotland. Denying him his 50th international match now doesn’t fit in with Nagelsmann’s personnel strategy at all. And it would also be a bad signal to a team that lives by the role philosophy.
– The tactics: With his technique, Havertz fits the profile perfectly against bulky Danes. Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz benefit from the Arsenal attacker. Füllkrug can then finish off tired Danes. It doesn’t have to be Havertz or Füllkrug in the course of the game. Both would be sure to take penalties.
– The fan factor: It sounds strange. But the emotions of the spectators are an argument for Havertz as the starting striker and Füllkrug as the joker. Assuming things aren’t going well, his substitution would be a special signal, a wake-up call. The noise level would be enormous, the team would be spurred on. Füllkrug is Nagelsmann’s bargaining chip.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
