Deniz Undav: “Born goalscorer” equals impressive World Cup record as Julian Nagelsmann delivers Germany start verdict before Ecuador clash

Deniz Undav has equalled an awesome World Cup scoring grounds aft coming disconnected the substitutes’ seat to nett doubly successful Germany’s 2-1 comeback victory implicit Ivory Coast connected Saturday.

The 29-year-old was brought connected successful the 60th infinitesimal erstwhile Die Mannachaft were trailing 1-0 pursuing a first-half onslaught from Ivory Coast skipper Frank Kessie.

Eight minutes later, Undav restored parity for Germany with a close-range volley aft gathering a curling transverse from chap substitute Nadiem Amiri.

The Stuttgart striker past secured each 3 points for the four-time satellite champions successful the 94th infinitesimal erstwhile helium turned and finished with aplomb aft receiving a astute through-ball from Lukas Nmecha.

Undav has taken his 2026 World Cup extremity tally to 3 goals, having antecedently scored arsenic a substitute successful Germany’s 7-1 demolition of Curacao connected matchday one.

He besides registered 2 assists against Curacao and present has 5 extremity contributions to his sanction aft conscionable 2 games, the joint-most arsenic a substitute astatine a azygous variation of the World Cup since records began successful 1966, alongside Cameroon fable Roger Milla successful 1990.

Nagelsmann admits Undav could commencement for Germany against Ecuador

Furthermore, Undav is the archetypal subordinate to people connected some of his archetypal 2 World Cup appearances for the German nationalist squad since Miroslav Klose backmost successful 2002.

"Deniz scored 2 outstanding goals. He is simply a calved goalscorer and finished some chances instinctively," Germany caput manager Julian Nagelsmann told reporters aft the match.

"He knows wherever the extremity is, and the victor was incredible. It was an affectional one.”

Nagelsmann was asked if Undav volition beryllium rewarded with a commencement successful Germany’s last radical crippled against Ecuador connected Thursday, and helium replied: "It's imaginable [he could play from the start]. But he's doing precise good successful his existent role. It tin spell successful some directions."

Undav entered this summer’s tourney connected the backmost of an exceptional 2025-26 play with Stuttgart, scoring 25 goals and registering 14 assists successful 46 games crossed each competitions, including 19 Bundesliga strikes.

Undav: “I had to marque the astir of immoderate chances disconnected the bat”

He replaced Jamal Musiala erstwhile helium came disconnected from the seat against Ivory Coast, with Kai Havertz moving from his centre-forward relation into a deeper attacking relation down Undav.

"When I came on, I knew I had to marque the astir of immoderate chances disconnected the bat," said Undav said.

"We surely enjoyed a portion of luck arsenic well. A batch is falling my mode astatine the moment. I’m trying to support this tally going and to bask it.

"The squad and the coaching unit are making things precise casual for maine close now, and that gives maine assurance heading into the coming fixtures."

Nagelsmann is apt to measurement up whether to commencement either Undav oregon Havertz arsenic his cardinal striker against Ecuador, with Germany already done to the knockout rounds and guaranteed to decorativeness apical of Group E. 

Meanwhile, Germany are sweating implicit the fittingness of centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, who was forced disconnected with an ankle wounded against Ivory Coast and could be successful information of missing the remainder of the World Cup.