- Undav's triumphant day: Tor debut and resurrection of the "Historic Design"
The number 13 jersey, once worn by Thomas Müller during his first game for Germany, was now proudly showcased by Deniz Undav as a souvenir from the Amsterdam Arena. "I'll give this to my wife and daughter as a memento of my first international goal," the 28-year-old striker from VfB Stuttgart said following the 2-2 draw of the German national football team against the Netherlands in the Nations League match.
Scoring a goal and providing an assist in his first start - this was a feat that Undav, who had previously entered the game as a substitute three times, was delighted about. "I'm really happy. I really wanted to score, and I did," he couldn't help but grin.
"I was aiming for the goal"
In the 38th minute, he scored the equalizer from ten meters with a challenging, direct shot. The goal that followed was a lucky break, as Undav himself admitted, giving VfB Stuttgart a 2-1 lead at the break. "I was aiming for the goal," he admitted. Unfortunately, the ball slipped, but it ended up rolling into the path of captain Joshua Kimmich, who kicked it into the net.
"What a fantastic day it was for me," Undav declared after his 64-minute stint. He had taken his place in the team as the only new addition, as Niclas Füllkrug was unable to play due to Achilles tendon inflammation.
Undav had been eagerly anticipating his chance, having impressed in practice. Captain Kimmich commended him for taking full advantage of the opportunity, despite initially finding it challenging to get into the flow of the game. "I enjoy players who push for more and follow through with their actions. That's exactly what Deniz did."
Undav's goal setup was completed by Joshua Kimmich, who capitalized on an unintentional slip.In the German national team, Joshua Kimmich continues to excel as a crucial member, effectively utilizing his opportunities.
