Germany’s lack of a world-class striker has been a concern for the national team since the retirement of Miroslav Klose in 2014. While they have had talented forwards, no one has been as deadly as their predecessors. Former Germany international Steffen Freund believes that the absence of a top striker is why the team is not at the top of the world rankings.
There are several factors that may have contributed to Germany’s decline in form. One possible reason is a shift in playing style. In 2010, Spain won the World Cup playing with a false nine, a forward who operates in deeper positions. Joachim Low, Germany’s coach at the time, was impressed by Spain’s tactics and followed their blueprint in the 2014 World Cup. Low often played without an out-and-out striker, favoring players like Mario Gotze in the false nine role.
Another issue lies in Germany’s youth development system. German football writer Constantin Eckner points out that while there are many talented wingers and playmakers in the country’s youth teams, there is a lack of highly skilled strikers. Strikers with limited technical ability struggle to make it to the Bundesliga and become competent at that level. The German football federation recognized this problem after the team’s disappointing performance in the 2018 World Cup and implemented changes to their youth framework, focusing on allowing children to enjoy the game and score goals.
Looking ahead to Euro 2024, Kai Havertz is likely to lead Germany’s attack. The Arsenal forward had an impressive season, scoring 14 goals in all competitions. However, Havertz, like many others, started out as an attacking midfielder and has been converted into a center-forward. Niclas Fullkrug is Germany’s only true out-and-out striker option, but at 31 years old, time may be running out for him on the international stage. Thomas Muller is a dependable option, but he does not consider himself a striker. Other exciting talents like Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala provide flair and tempo to the team but are not traditional center-forwards.
The question of who should lead the line for Germany at Euro 2024 has divided fans. Some prefer a traditional number nine like Fullkrug, while others want a fast player like Havertz. Germany’s style of play excites fans the most when they adopt a fast-paced approach. While Germany may have options to mix things up in attack for Euro 2024, it seems that fans hoping for the emergence of the next Muller or Klinsmann may have to wait a little longer.