2024-09-09 14:26:32
Niclas Füllkrug impressed at the European Championships and has now scored in the Nations League. Lothar Matthäus nonetheless names an alternative striker for the national team for the future.
During the European Championships at home, national player Niclas Füllkrug impressed the German fans with his goals. The DFB professional also scored at the start of the Nations League in the 5-0 win against Hungary. Lothar Matthäus is of the opinion that a “real centre forward” like Füllkrug, who has moved to West Ham, is good for Germany. He writes this in his column on Sky.
But the record national player also names an alternative for the future: Tim Kleindienst. The striker, who moved from Heidenheim to Gladbach this summer, is “strong player, intelligent, physically good and has a great header.”
Matthäus is certain: “I think Julian Nagelsmann already has him in mind.” Last season, the 29-year-old scored 14 goals in the Bundesliga and the DFB Cup. Kleindienst also scored in the first two league games for Gladbach.
He has also played for the German U20 team and made ten appearances for the DFB youth team. In an interview with the “Rheinische Post” newspaper, the offensive player said of a possible future national team nomination: “Of course, that’s every footballer’s dream, and it lives on with me too. But in the end, it’s not my decision.”
However, he added: “The only thing I can do is perform as well as I can. And then the national coach will decide whether he wants me in the team or not.” So we’ll have to wait and see whether Nagelsmann agrees with Matthäus.
The DFB team has to prove itself again in the Nations League on Tuesday. Then they will face the Netherlands (from 8.45 p.m. in the t-online live ticker).