Germany hero shares concern over Kai Havertz 'problem' ahead of Euro 2024 opener
Kai Havertz will lead the line for Germany at Euro 2024 (Photo: Getty)
Germany icon Sami Khedira has shared his concern that Kai Havertz isn’t prolific enough to lead the line for his country at Euro 2024.
Host nation Germany kick-off this summer’s European Championships in Munich on Friday night when they take on Scotland.
Die Mannschaft are one of the favourites despite enduring a very difficult build-up to the tournament, with manager Julian Nagelsmann inspiring some fresh hope in the nation.
One of his tough tasks has been to get the side firing again in the absence of a world-class striker, with his solution being to play Arsenal star Havertz in the No.9 role.
Though not a natural striker, the 25-year-old has performed well as a centre-forward under Mikel Arteta, with nine goals and six assists in his final 14 Premier League appearances of the season.
He has 16 goals in 46 caps for his country, but, similar to Arsenal, there is still worry that the side’s lack of an out-and-out No.9 means they won’t be able to win silverware.
Former Real Madrid and Juventus midfielder Khedira, who won the 2014 World Cup, shared this concern on the Five YouTube channel: ‘This discussion we had with Pep Guardiola or the Spanish national team when they had no No.9.
Sami Khedira won the 2014 World Cup with Germany (Photo: Getty)
‘But to be honest, even in club football you need an amazing goalkeeper and a No.9 who’s scoring like 30 goals. Then you have a good chance to win the league or the Champions League.
‘But we are the national team, so we cannot buy any players, we cannot buy Harry Kane. Kai Havertz is not a No.9 obviously.
‘[Niclas] Fullkrug, I heard he has some problems with his knee and back. He’s a good player but he’s not like Miroslav Klose, he’s not like Mario Gomez.
Niclas Fullkrug has scored 11 goals in 16 game for Germany (Photo: Getty)
‘So we have a lack of a No.9 100 per cent. Maybe in tight games that could be a big problem.
‘Also the other weaknesses that we have is we have good defenders, strong defenders but on the counterattack we are not the best team and that could be a big problem during the tournament.’
As mentioned Germany do have a natural striker in their squad in Fullkrug who scored 16 and assisted 10 to help Borussia Dortmund reach the Champions League final.
The 31-year-old has 11 goals in 16 caps for his country but doesn’t seem to be a starting player for Nagelsmann.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have been linked with a number of strikers to displace Havertz including Alexander Isak and Ivan Toney, though they have missed out on RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
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