9 Goals in 11 Games: Why Lothar Matthäus is Demanding Deniz Undav Start the World Cup

Okay, Seattle, you NEED to hear about this! The World Cup is absolutely buzzing, and Germany's record appearance maker, the legendary Lothar Matthäus, just dropped a BOMBSHELL. He's not just suggesting, he's basically DEMANDING that Deniz Undav, the VfB Stuttgart forward, starts for Germany right now. Why? Because Undav has been an absolute game-changer, coming off the bench to save Germany and send them to the knock-out stages for the first time since their 2014 trophy win! This isn't just about one guy, this is about Germany's whole vibe heading into the serious part of the tournament.

Undav is On Fire, No Joke

Seriously, this guy is unreal. Against Ivory Coast, Undav came in as a sub and flipped the whole game, scoring a match-winning double, including a stoppage-time winner. We're talking clutch, folks! That win in Toronto punched Germany's ticket to the knock-outs, and you could feel the energy shift. But that's not his only magic trick. He also scored AND created two goals in their insane 7-1 opener against Curaçao. The dude is 29, a total late bloomer, but he's already racked up nine goals in just 11 international appearances. Think about that for a second. Nine goals in 11 games! That's the kind of production you absolutely have to notice, especially when the stakes are this high.

A Legend's Gut Feeling: Start Him Now

Lothar Matthäus, a 1990 World Cup winner, isn't holding back. He went public, writing in a column for Sky Germany, that Undav needs to be in

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the starting eleven, not just for the upcoming Ecuador game, but for the entire knock-out phase. "I do believe that you would now have to start Undav from the beginning, in terms of his performance, in terms of his work rate," Matthäus stated. And honestly, who can argue? Undav does not want to be a substitute, nobody does. Every player sees it as their aim to offer themselves to the coach, and Undav has done exactly that. Germany's coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has been a bit cagey, hinting Undav's impact off the bench might be more important. But Matthäus is like, "Nope, give the man his starts!" The country's record appearance maker also shouted out the other substitutes for that epic comeback against Ivory Coast. It shows the depth, but Undav's clearly shining brightest.

What's Next for Germany and Undav?

Germany has already locked up top spot in Group E, so their game on Thursday against Ecuador technically has nothing riding on it for the four-time champions. But Matthäus is still saying this game matters for morale and rhythm. "The team will also want to win this last group match, simply to keep the atmosphere high, keep the tension high," he explained. He believes they need to maintain a rhythm and a core, especially with only top-class opponents left. Will Nagelsmann listen to the legend? Will Undav finally get the starting nod he's earned? You know we'll be watching every kick, every pass, every single moment of that Ecuador game, hoping to see our man Undav unleashed from the start. This World Cup is just getting spicy, and you don't want to miss a second of it!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.