At this point, the loudest calls are understandably for Deniz Undav. The VfB Stuttgart striker has been nothing short of sensational at the World Cup, recording three goals and two assists in limited minutes while repeatedly changing games off the bench. Germany’s comeback win over Ivory Coast was powered almost entirely by Undav’s two-goal substitute appearance.
However, if there is another bench player who deserves serious consideration, it might be Nadiem Amiri.
Germany looked stagnant for long
stretches against Ivory Coast, struggling to move the ball quickly through midfield and create dangerous chances. Everything changed after Nagelsmann’s substitutions around the hour mark. Amiri immediately brought more energy, creativity, and forward-thinking passing to the attack, even providing the assist for Undav’s equalizer.
Another intriguing option is Jamie Leweling. Like Amiri, his introduction helped inject life into Germany’s attack against the Ivorians. While he may not have the star power of some of the established starters, his directness and willingness to run at defenders could be useful against opponents who sit deep.
There is also an argument for Angelo Stiller if Nagelsmann wants more control in midfield, especially with some starters failing to dominate possession consistently. Germany has won both matches and already secured progression, but the performances have not always been convincing despite the results.
The good news for Germany is that this is the type of problem every coach wants to have. The bench is producing, the team keeps winning, and several players are making compelling cases for larger roles. The question is whether Nagelsmann will reward that form or continue trusting the players who began the tournament as his first-choice starters.
What do you think?
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