Germany's sub scores two goals in 76 mins, controversial but beneficial!

Iti911

The European Championship has been underway for some time now, and currently, who leads the top scorer list? Surprisingly, one of the leading scorers is Germany's substitute forward, Niclas Füllkrug. What's particularly noteworthy is that he scored two goals in just 73 minutes, making him the efficiency king of this tournament!

In this European Championship, the debate over which forward should start for the German team has been ongoing. Currently, Germany has two forwards with distinct characteristics: Havertz, who is not a traditional center-forward but excels in team linkage, passing, and pivotal play, and Füllkrug, a traditional number 9 who prioritizes goal scoring. Nagelsmann's preference for a certain level of possession-oriented style leans towards Havertz.

However, many are not entirely satisfied with this choice because Germany has traditionally favored a traditional center-forward. Moreover, Füllkrug's performance speaks volumes: he scored two goals in just 76 minutes of play, whereas Havertz, starting in every match, has only scored one penalty goal so far and missed several opportunities in the third group stage match. Therefore, some are advocating for Germany to switch to a traditional center-forward immediately.

Nevertheless, Germany is currently in good form, having scored 8 goals in 3 group stage matches, making them the most potent attacking team in the European Championship. Having two excellent forwards can only be a positive thing, as they can adapt their lineup based on different situations and may even consider playing with two forwards as the competition intensifies.

Samiksha

If we judge heroes solely by success or failure, is it possible unless you accurately predict the goals in advance? Germany has many exceptional talents, and the choice of starters is a strategic tactical issue. Therefore, post-game dissatisfaction shouldn't be taken seriously! Germany has its talents, even if substitutes are brought on mid-game, they still achieve their objectives. Is it a crime to have someone serve as a substitute? When analyzing game results, it's crucial to ignore surrounding distractions!

Indra55

Actually, whether he is a substitute or not doesn't matter, the most important thing is to perform well and earn points for the team.

Jafar224

Although Havertz stands tall at 193 cm, he is not a traditional center forward, and can't even be called a center forward because Havertz originates from the attacking midfielder position. It was only later, due to Germans learning the Spanish no-striker formation, that Havertz was pushed into the center forward position. This was also the case during his time at Arsenal, where the team focused on possession play and utilized Havertz's good technical skills to lead the center forward position. Now, the German tactical approach has abandoned the old traditional German-style high center forward play of defenders crossing and center forwards seizing points, placing a greater emphasis on the center forward role to support attacking midfielders from behind, playing a connecting role. Thus, Havertz, who has excellent technical skills, continues to occupy the starting center forward position. I think this tactic is likely to continue, because currently, players like Wirtz, Musiala, behind him, Gundogan, and Kroos are all technical players, and this set of short-pass penetration tactics is quite proficient. In this tournament, we can also see midfielders and wing attackers like Musiala, Wirtz, and Gundogan performing quite well, while Havertz, as the co-pilot, has only scored one penalty. As for the traditional German-style high center forward play, it remains as a backup plan, to be used when the team fails to score for a long time, or when they want to change tactics to challenge the opponent's defense, bringing on wing talents like Sané and high center forward Phil Krüger to attack the defense with crossing from the sidelines. I think this is also very correct, allowing these strong attacking players to come on in the second half when the opponent's physical fitness is weaker, thus enhancing their attacking potential. With multiple tactical options, the Germans can go further, and the players selected by the head coach are surely all useful in their own right, making the substitute bench for the national team also very prestigious.

Yamini003

Germany's two excellent forwards have indeed added a lot of firepower to the team. Niclas Füllkrug's efficient performance has left a deep impression, while Havertz's linking role within the team is also indispensable. Looking forward to them continuing to play important roles in the upcoming matches!

Sona59

For some longtime German fans, the traditional big center forwards of Germany are truly beloved and revered—Klose, Mario Götze—they're all cherished figures. Going back even further, there's Klinsmann, Bierhoff, especially the Golden Bomber, a legend.

In today's society, football's possession and team performance are crucial, and tactics involving these big German center forwards are rarely seen. Füllkrug gives us a glimmer of hope, this lad isn't young anymore, he's already 31 this year. I remember first noticing him during Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund, he had a highlight reel showcasing a header goal, though he played as a forward, he performed like a center forward.

Füllkrug's specialty lies in headers, otherwise, his stature would be wasted. His strength and positioning are world-class, and occasionally his abundant stamina acts as a trump card. He's had it tough over the years, battling injuries and lack of playing time, resulting in him not being called up for the national team. However, he's resilient, he's crafted his style at Werder Bremen and had a fantastic last season, scoring 19 goals and becoming a key player for Bremen. In 2022, he played in the World Cup and has now been selected for the European Championship again, which is quite commendable.

He can't be compared to top stars like Haaland or Lewandowski because he has his own unique strengths. In recent years, Germany's attack has been very versatile with many speedy and technical attackers, but they've always lacked a true center forward. While Havertz can play as a center forward, he can't be a pivotal figure, so Germany has been lacking a traditional center forward. Füllkrug has filled this void admirably, and hopefully with the support of many talented players in the German team, he can go even further and ideally win the European Championship!

Jiten171

The true test of a striker, whether traditional or not, lies in their ability to rescue the team when it matters most. Scoring goals remains the ultimate benchmark of success.

Kapil334

Perhaps he performs better as a substitute!