Bundesliga
Long-distance goal scorer duel: Füllkrug and Undav hope for a place at the European Championships
Stuttgart’s coach Sebastian Hoeneß (r) raves about goal scorer Deniz Undav (l). photo
© Harry Langer/dpa
National coach Julian Nagelsmann is looking for an accurate striker for the European Championships. So far, Niclas Füllkrug seemed to be the first choice. But the Dortmund professional faces competition from Stuttgart.
The long-distance duel for the national coach’s favor is currently like a shooting competition. With five goals in each of the last four Bundesliga games Niclas Füllkrug and Deniz Undav recommended for a place in the DFB team. The Dortmund attacker still sees himself at an advantage.
When asked about the competitor from Stuttgart, who can expect Julian Nagelsmann to be nominated for the first time, Füllkrug reacted combatively: “Why? I scored eleven goals in 13 games for the national team and provided two assists,” the 30-year-old replied, “I know “I don’t, what are you looking for? Someone who scores 25 goals in 13 games? You can’t find him in Germany.”
The fact that the BVB professional scored one more goal for the national team after his hat-trick against Bochum at the end of January than the official DFB statistics only partially invalidates his assessment. Due to the lack of alternatives, Füllkrug was able to be certain until recently. A regular place at the European Championships in our own country seemed close.
Coach Hoeneß: Almost impossible to get past Undav
But competition has now arisen for Dortmund’s top scorer. Because Undav is one of the discoveries of the season. On average, he scored every 87 minutes and is ahead of Füllkrug (161 minutes). “I think if he keeps doing that, then he has a huge chance and it’s almost impossible to get past him,” replied his club coach Sebastian Hoeneß when asked about the Stuttgart player’s possible nomination for the DFB team.
A first call from the national coach had an effect. “Julian Nagelsmann mostly spoke and I listened. I have never had a worse feeling in my life,” commented the 27-year-old in “Sport Bild” about the course of the phone call. Since then, his nomination for the two international matches against France (March 23) and the Netherlands (March 26) has been considered likely.
The conversation strengthened self-confidence: “I saw: Deniz, you’re a fool and you talk a lot. But you’re doing something right! There’s nothing better than playing for the national team.”
Praise from ex-coach Lieberknecht for Undav
Before the Swabians’ away game in Darmstadt on Saturday (3:30 p.m./Sky), club coach Hoeneß praised the newcomer as a “brand – for VfB, but also in the Bundesliga”. The striker does “special things on the pitch” and is also “really cool and positive” off the pitch.
The former Undav and current Darmstadt coach Torsten Lieberknecht expressed himself in a similarly benevolent manner: “Deniz played his first professional game under me in Braunschweig. He has this instinct for goal and is currently on the way to becoming a national player. He has developed well because he always believed in himself.”
Undav, who was on loan from English club Brighton & Hove Albion last summer, has already scored 14 goals in 18 Bundesliga games for Stuttgart. He was born in Germany, his parents come from Turkey. He had already announced in December that he would choose the DFB team if nominated.
Filling jug also shines as a preparer
As with Undav, the shape curve of Füllkrug also points upwards. Two weeks after his hat-trick against Bochum, he not only impressed as a goalscorer in the BVB duel with Freiburg, but also as a provider for two more BVB goals. “He has taken a step. It was good for him to be able to train completely this month,” said BVB coach Edin Terzic before the game on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky) in Wolfsburg, referring to the recently manageable schedule without English weeks.
Nevertheless, the coach still sees room for improvement with the ten-time goalscorer: “We hope that we haven’t reached the limit yet. We expect our offensive players to have a quota. That’s what they’re at Borussia Dortmund for.”