Julian Nagelsmann decides which striker will start for Germany | OneFootball

Germany face two difficult games against Italy to secure their place in the UEFA Nations League semi-final, and now Julian Nagelsmann has decided who will start in attack for the national team.

Nagelsmann called up Jonathan Burkardt (Mainz), Tim Kleindienst (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Deniz Undav (Stuttgart) for their upcoming games against Italy on Thursday and Sunday.

According to BILD, Kleindienst will start against Italy in Milan on Thursday night. The 29-year-old has scored 15 and created six in 25 Bundesliga games for Borussia Mönchengladbach this season and has two goals in his last 100 minutes for the German national team.

Kleindienst’s route to the top perhaps took longer than most. Playing 3. Liga football for Energie Cottbus in the 2014/15 season, the 6 foot 4 striker then joined Freiburg where he would play in the 2. Bundesliga, and Regionalliga Sudwest before joining Heidenheim on loan in the second division.

Upon his return to Freiburg, Kleindienst failed to establish himself in the Bundesliga and would return to Heidenheim on a permanent basis in the 2019/20 season, where he would score 14 goals in 27 games, helping FCH into the playoffs. After failing to secure a place in the Bundesliga, Kleindienst would then join Belgian side KAA Gent where he would play in the Europa League but after struggling to perform, would again return to Heidenheim on loan before making a permanent move back to Germany.

His 23 goals in 32 games helped secure Bundesliga football for Heidenheim, where he would then score 12 and create five in 33 Bundesliga games, helping FCH qualify for European football in their maiden Bundesliga campaign. His performances then attracted interest from Germany’s top clubs, and a move to Borussia Mönchengladbach beckoned.

With 15 goals and six assists in 25 games this season, Kleindienst has finally made a name for himself within Germany and is fully deserving of his place in the German national team.

Kleindienst vs Füllkrug to become Germany’s No. 9

Nagelsmann brought Kleindienst to the German setup last year, but the 29-year-old will face competition from Niclas Füllkrug. The West Ham forward has missed 21 games across all competitions this season with two separate injuries but remains an important player for Nagelsmann. The 32-year-old flew to Dortmund for a team meal and has surrounded himself with the German national team prior to their games against Italy. Should Füllkrug prove his fitness after recovering from his current hamstring injury, then the West Ham player will remain in Nagelsmann’s plans.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder