Stuttgart – A late goal from VfB Stuttgart forward Deniz Undav secured a 2-1 victory for Germany over Ghana in an international friendly at the MHP Arena on Monday. The win marks Germany’s seventh consecutive victory under head coach Julian Nagelsmann as they continue their preparations for the FIFA World Cup this summer in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Kai Havertz opened the scoring for the hosts in first-half stoppage time, converting a penalty awarded for a handball. Abdul Fatawu Issahaku leveled the score for Ghana in the 70th minute, but Undav’s 88th-minute strike proved to be the decisive moment, sending the Stuttgart crowd into raptures. The match, played amid intermittent rain showers, saw Germany largely dominate possession and create more scoring opportunities.
Nagelsmann Praises Performance, Condemns Fan Behavior
Despite the positive result, the match wasn’t without its controversy. Germany international Leroy Sané was subjected to boos from a section of the home crowd as he entered the field as a substitute in the 79th minute. The reaction drew criticism from Nagelsmann, who described the booing as “unfair,” stating, “Booing him before he even had his first touch of the ball, I don’t think that’s fair.”
Nagelsmann’s sentiments were echoed by teammates Deniz Undav and Alexander Nübel. Sané, however, appeared unfazed by the negativity, providing the assist for Undav’s winning goal. The incident casts a shadow over an otherwise positive outing for the German national team.
Match Recap: Germany Controls Play, Undav Delivers
Germany started the brighter of the two sides, creating several chances in the opening stages. Nick Woltemade came close to opening the scoring early on, while Jonathan Tah saw a deflected effort go over the bar. Florian Wirtz had a goal ruled out for offside before Havertz’s penalty gave Germany a deserved lead just before halftime. The penalty was awarded after Havertz’s shot was blocked by a Ghana player’s hand.
The second half saw a more open game, with both teams creating opportunities. Ghana threatened through Antoine Semenyo, whose goal-bound effort was blocked by Nico Schlotterbeck. Woltemade also hit the woodwork for Germany. Fatawu’s equalizer came after a well-worked move involving Derrick Köhn, who provided the assist.
Undav’s winner came moments after Lennart Karl had a chance to score but saw his effort blocked. Karl’s headed pass into the box found Undav, who finished from close range. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Stuttgart faithful, who had been vocally supporting their local hero throughout the match.
“A Perfect Evening” for Undav and Nagelsmann
“In my opinion, we played better than against Switzerland, even if we scored fewer goals,” Nagelsmann said after the match. Undav echoed his coach’s sentiments, expressing his delight at the victory and the support from the fans: “It was a perfect evening, got the win, scored the decisive goal – top.” Woltemade added that the team was strong in the first 25 minutes but lacked a finishing touch.
This victory follows a 4-3 win over Switzerland last week, continuing a positive trend for Germany as they build momentum ahead of the World Cup. Nagelsmann’s side appears to be finding a rhythm and confidence, despite some defensive vulnerabilities.
Ghanaian Setback: Addo Relieved of Duties
The result was a disappointing one for Ghana, and the aftermath saw significant changes within their coaching setup. Just hours after the final whistle, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) announced the immediate dismissal of head coach Otto Addo. Addo, a former Bundesliga player, had been in charge of the national team for two years. The GFA has yet to name a replacement.
Ghana will face a challenging group at the World Cup, taking on England, Croatia, and Panama. Prior to the defeat against Germany, they suffered a heavy 5-1 loss to Austria.
Looking Ahead: Final Preparations for the World Cup
Germany will continue their World Cup preparations with two more friendly matches. They will face Finland in Mainz on May 31st and then travel to Chicago to grab on the United States on June 6th. Nagelsmann is expected to announce his final World Cup squad on May 12th. These matches will provide valuable opportunities to fine-tune the team’s tactics and assess the form of potential squad members.
The win over Ghana provides a boost of confidence for Germany as they head into the final stages of their World Cup preparation. However, Nagelsmann will be keen to address the issues that led to the booing of Sané and ensure a united front as they aim to make a strong impression at the tournament.
Next Up: Germany vs. Finland, May 31st, Mainz.
