With Jonathan Burkardt and Deniz Undav delivering prolific performances in the Bundesliga, Tim Kleindienst returning to fitness, and Nick Woltemade carving out a strong reputation in England, German national team coach Julian Nagelsmann is facing a welcome, yet challenging, selection headache ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Even after securing their World Cup ticket with a dominant 6-0 victory over Slovakia, Nagelsmann finds no respite. The recent domestic matchday showcased exceptional form from several German forwards, intensifying the competition for the central striking role.
Eintracht Frankfurt`s key player, Jonathan Burkardt, netted a brace in Die Adler`s dramatic 4-3 away victory against Cologne. These goals marked his seventh and eighth Bundesliga strikes of the season, positioning him second only to Bayern Munich`s Harry Kane in the scoring charts.
Burkardt is proving ruthlessly efficient. His eight league goals have come over his last eight appearances, compiled from a total of just 22 shots taken. Furthermore, he has maintained his form in European competition, scoring three times in four UEFA Champions League appearances.
His mentality also impresses. Following the Cologne match, Burkardt demonstrated refreshing honesty regarding his persistence: “The first half was one of my worst for Eintracht. The main thing is to keep your chin up and believe that you’ll come away with the win, and it really came off for us.”
While Burkardt is leading the pace, Undav is right on his heels, despite having missed four matchdays due to a knee injury. Since regaining full fitness, the VfB Stuttgart striker has been in red-hot form, culminating in an heroic hat-trick to rescue a 3-3 draw against Borussia Dortmund.
Undav has scored six goals in his last five Bundesliga matches, in addition to finding the net in Stuttgart’s most recent Europa League fixture against Feyenoord.
Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß was effusive in his praise: “What Deniz did in the second half was simply world-class. He scored three goals against [top defenders]. That was an outstanding performance. Deniz is on fire. The Man of the Match award rightfully goes to him.”
However, Undav remains grounded, understanding the need for sustained excellence: “If I don’t score in three games, I’ll immediately be a bad player again. I have to perform consistently, score consistently, and prove myself.” Consistency is vital for Undav, as he missed the last three Germany international breaks.
Adding another layer of complexity for Nagelsmann is the return of Tim Kleindienst. The Borussia Mönchengladbach forward made his first appearance since a long-term knee injury suffered in May, coming on as a late substitute against Heidenheim.
Before his setback, Kleindienst had enjoyed a stellar season, registering 16 goals and seven assists in 31 Bundesliga appearances. These impressive figures earned the 29-year-old his maiden Germany call-up, where he has since amassed four goals in six international appearances. Kleindienst expressed his joy at being back: “For me, coming on as a substitute was a very special moment. There’s nothing better than being able to stand on the pitch again after a long injury.”
Kleindienst knows he must perform to challenge the current status quo, as Nagelsmann appears to favor Nick Woltemade for the central attacking role. The 23-year-old has led the line, starting in each of Germany’s last six international fixtures, and has scored four goals in his last three appearances for the national team.
Woltemade provides several compelling arguments for his inclusion. Playing for Newcastle United, he has netted four Premier League goals in nine appearances this season, plus one in the Champions League. Additionally, standing at 6’6”, Woltemade offers a crucial alternative dimension in the air compared to his competitors.
Whether Nagelsmann will stick by Woltemade next summer remains uncertain. Ultimately, Burkardt, Undav, and Kleindienst must continue to deliver consistent performances at club level, making the final selection decision for the German tactician as challenging as possible.
Rupert Fawcett
