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AL KHOR, QATAR: Striker Niklas Volkrug – nicknamed ‘Jap’ due to the loss of a front tooth – has probably plugged coach Hansi Flick’s biggest hole in Qatar.
After being blighted by the misfortune of his injury-damaged career, Voelkrug’s late goal against Spain on Sunday revived Germany’s frenzied World Cup campaign and provided a lesson in perseverance.
Nothing has been easy for the 29-year-old Vilkrug, who 12 months ago was toiling in the second division, off the national team’s radar after four major knee surgeries. Around that time, Voelkrug hit a rich style that sent Werder Bremen back to the top flight. And the return to the elite has not slowed Voelkrug, Germany’s top scorer in the Bundesliga this season with 10 goals in 14 games.
With Germany in danger of crashing out at the group stage for the second time in a row, Flick turned to Volkrog to come off the bench against Spain, and the forward delivered what could prove to be a turning point for the four-time world champions.
Speaking after the 1-1 draw at Al Bayt Stadium, Flick summed up Volkrog’s value to the team, saying: “He showed us how to score goals.” Although Flick’s statement may have been partly in jest, it represents the crux of the problem German football has faced since all-time top scorer Miroslav Klose retired after winning the 2014 World Cup.
Germany scored 18 goals on its way to the 2014 title, seven of which came in the semi-finals by demolishing Brazil. In 2010, the Germans scored 16 goals on their way to third place. When they fell in the first round in 2018, their first World Cup exit in 80 years, they only found the net twice.
After losing 2-1 to Japan in their opening match in Qatar, Germany were once again teetering on the brink. Enter Voelkrug, whose last appearance for Germany before making his debut in a pre-tournament friendly against Oman came for the Under-20s eight years ago.
He became Germany’s oldest player in 20 years, scoring against Oman hours before arriving in Qatar, his timely purple patch propelling him onto the big stage. With a potentially decisive goal difference in Group E, where each team could still qualify with one game to play, the inclusion of a proven goalscorer in the starting line-up might seem logical, especially for a team without a player.
Flick will not be drawn on Sunday if his forward’s heroics have earned him a starting spot against Costa Rica. “It’s too early after the match to make a statement, but we’re very happy – he showed his determination.
“He gives a lot to the team not only with his goals, but he is also a good player. His heart is in the right place and we are very happy to have him.” It was a sentiment shared by the little-known striker’s more famous teammates, including Thomas Müller who was substituted in favor of Voelkrug and may have the most to lose by signing him.
“The way Voelkrug let it go like this was amazing. It’s a great story.” “You could see from Niklas’s goal the quality he had. It was a very important goal,” said Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, while Leon Goretzka praised his teammate’s “pure determination” to score.
Voelkrug himself did his best to make sure his teammates didn’t get too carried away. “We really wanted to drag (this match) back. That was really important for the atmosphere,” Voelkrug told ZDF. “But we shouldn’t lose our heads. We still have room for improvement.”
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