Since Germany’s victory against Scotland on the first day of the tournament, Kai Havertz has started every game for his country at Euro 2024; yet, the Arsenal star is under pressure to impress.
Kai Havertz received a harsh reality check after a resounding majority of German football fans demanded that he be benched.
Julian Nagelmann’s team easily advanced to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 thanks to Havertz starting all three of Germany’s group matches. On Sunday, they drew with Switzerland, easily defeated Hungary 2-0, and then crushed Scotland 5-1.
But since that first game against the Scots, Havertz has been unable to score or record an assist. Rather than others, Germany has relied on super sub-Niclas Fullkrug to score the goals that have advanced them.
The hosts’ first opponent in the knockout stage will be Denmark, the current runners-up in Group C. Before that pivotal match on Saturday, their supporters are now requesting that Nagelsmann make an audacious choice.
Ninety percent of responders to a survey conducted by the German daily Bild among 138,000 individuals wanted Havertz to be replaced by Borussia Dortmund star Fullkrug.
Havertz has only scored one goal this season—a penalty against Scotland—and has only had one attempt on goal against Switzerland. Meanwhile, Fullkrug, who had already scored against Scotland, equalized against the Swiss in stoppage time.
Fullkrug is a conventional striker, although Havertz, who plays for both Germany and his club Arsenal, uses a false nine. Being a slow developer, he didn’t make his debut on the international scene until November 2022, making him the oldest outfield player to do so in 20 years.
Since making his debut, the 31-year-old has scored 13 goals in 19 games, which is an incredible record for an international goal scorer. Considering that he has only played the equivalent of seven and a half matches in terms of minutes, that accomplishment is all the more amazing.
He has become Die Mannschaft’s backup plan and Julian Nagelsmann’s go-to player off the bench. However, his followers now want Havertz to play the fall man and him to become Plan A.
Head coach Nagelsmann has stated that he is still happy with Havertz’s performance in the competition thus far. However, he acknowledged that Fullkrug is working hard to take the place of the Arsenal star in the starting lineup.
“He [Fullkrug] presents justifications for each. He scores his second substitution goal to keep playing the role because he does it so well. or to begin playing right away. He is happy and saddened by how brilliantly he plays the part.
“After analyzing the opposition to determine the starting lineup, you can substitute players from the bench. The team has a unique spirit that has the potential to do great things.