As preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup continue, Germany dispatched Finland 4-0 with major contributions by the Bayern Munich contingent, including assists by Joshua Kimmich and Lennart Karl, as well as a goal by Jamal Musiala.
Here are our Match Awards for the game:
Jersey Swap: Anssi Suhonen
Finland basically got played off the park, so there is very little to say in terms of standout players on the night. Finnish midfielder Anssi Suhonen was perhaps a little bit more effective than his colleagues, often attempting to get
in the way of the relentless German attack on the night.
Der Kaiser: Nathaniel Brown
Nathaniel Brown put up a promising performance, one that recommends him for a starting role at the World Cup. The Eintracht Frankfurt left-back was a menace on the German flank, providing the necessary support to allow Florian Wirtz to cut inside and wreak havoc. He demonstrated excellent instincts as an offensive LB and kept things tidy at the back. Compared to recent performances by David Raum, Brown seems like a serious option.
Fußballgott: Joshua Kimmich
“But he was a right-back!” I hear you cry.
That’s what the team sheet said, but Joshua Kimmich basically abandoned the flank as soon as the game started. Inverting into midfield, he played as a right-sided deep lying playmaker for most of the game. It was only on the scant few Finland counters that Kimmich dropped back into his original position; otherwise, he was a mainstay in midfield.
Most of the buildup and a large part of the attack went through Joshua Kimmich. It is similar to the situation at Bayern Munich, where he is the offensive lynchpin of Vincent Kompany’s system and the guy who connects attack and defense. Julian Nagelsmann recognizes the utility of such a role in his system, but it raises questions about how Germany will cope against teams with more attacking threat than Finland.
Der Bomber: Lennart Karl
Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz both got goals, and Lennart Karl only got an assist. So why is he here instead of them? Because in terms of overall threat, Karl was perhaps the most dangerous player on the night. He was the one constantly asking questions of the Finland defense, making bombing runs forward and clever passes into space. His output probably deserved more than one assist on the night, and he makes a strong case to start in the World Cup.
Meister of the Match: Deniz Undav
Nagelsmann can’t spin this one, Undav was excellent. Sure, the Stuttgart striker missed a couple of chances at first, but he got into the game at the right moment with an opening goal that demonstrates a striker’s instinct for exploiting space. Then he pounced on a loose pass to assist Wirtz for the second, and made an excellent finish from Karl’s through ball for the third.
If this doesn’t recommend him for the starting XI, then you have to accuse the coach of playing favorites. Unless, of course, his injury is worse than we think.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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