Miroslav Klose is not a fan of the heavy criticism of Kai Havertz. He believes that the Arsenal star has done well for Germany, and the defence needs to be sorted before the attack.
Speaking to WELT, Klose said that fans need to accept the decision from manager Julian Nagelsmann and back the players on the pitch. He believes that the striker switch could take place, but that doesn’t mean that Havertz has played badly. He said:
“I’ve heard that the defence is causing problems, it’s not the attack that’s causing problems. It’s always a decision made by the coach (dropping Havertz for Fullkrug), but I don’t think Kai Havertz has played badly.”
Nagelsmann commented on Fullkrug’s impact off the bench and said that they need players like him. The coach added that he’s happy with the goals from the Borussia Dortmund star:
“It’s also important that you always have players who can come in and make a difference. Everyone knows what Fullkrug can do, and I’ve said it often enough and basically talked him into the national team. Thank God he was able to justify it now.”
Kai Havertz has scored once this summer, while Niclas Fullkrug has scored twice and is tied for the Golden Boot.
Rudi Voller on Niclas Fullkrug vs Kai Havertz
German legend Rudi Voller, who was also asked about Niclas Füllkrug vs Kai Havertz, said that he’s ready to accept any decision from Nagelsmann. He said that both players are good enough to lead the attack for Germany, at Wednesday’s press conference:
“It’s relatively simple. Fullkrug’s scoring rate is exceptional. It’s incredible how he scored in the amount of playing time he gets. Nevertheless, Kai is a player I brought to Leverkusen when he was young, and he’s hugely important for the team.
“How he demands the ball, holds it, is always available to pass to, and wins headers. You also need a centre forward who can play, even if it’s not the classic type for that position. In his own way, he does it exceptionally well.”
Germany face Denmark in the Round of 16 on Saturday (June 29), and Havertz is expected to retain his position in the starting XI.
