EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) 鈥� Deniz Undav has three goals and two assists in 69 minutes at the , averaging a goal contribution every 13.8 minutes for a rate topping Lionel Messi (37.4), Kylian Mbapp茅 (48.8) and Erling Haaland (51.2).
And the 29-year-old striker still hasn’t earned a place in Germany’s starting lineup.
鈥淚f I weren鈥檛 happy, if I weren’t content, I wouldn鈥檛 be here,鈥� he said during a news conference Wednesday ahead of Germany’s group stage finale against Ecuador. 鈥淚 accept the role.鈥�
Germany is bouncing back from after . Die Mannschaft has clinched Group E and will start the knockout phase against a third-place team, possibly Paraguay or Australia, on Monday at Foxborough, Massachusetts.
While Germany is seeking its 12th straight victory, which would tie the team record set in 1979-80, Ecuador has one point and likely needs a victory to have a chance reach the knockout rounds.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said he planned only forced lineup changes. after tearing a left ankle ligament against Ivory Coast on Saturday, and left back Nathaniel Brown is out because of an adductor problem. Antonio R眉diger and David Raum are likely to take their places.
鈥淲e want to prepare ourselves for the knockout phase,鈥� Nagelsmann said. 鈥淲e all say that Deniz really would deserve to be in the starting lineup but we have an idea and we talked about it with Deniz and other players and tomorrow we will do the rotations that are necessary.鈥�
Undav reached top level at late age
Undav played for Havelse, Braunschweig and Meppen in Germany鈥檚 lower tiers from 2017-20, then joined Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium鈥檚 second tier and helped the club win promotion. He debuted with Brighton in England鈥檚 Premier League for the 2022-23 season and switched to Stuttgart for 2023-24.
Coming off his third season with Stuttgart, Undav was second in the Bundesliga with 19 goals last season and trailed only Harry Kane鈥檚 36. He made his Germany debut in March 2024 and has nine goals in 11 international appearances 鈥� just three of them starts.
He entered in the 64th minute of the and had a goal and two assists, then came on in the 60th minute against Ivory Coast and scored twice as Die Mannschaft rallied for a .
Undav was happy to have his name alongside the sport’s top stars in the scoring lists.
鈥淢essi, he was my favorite player and what he can still do at the age of 38, 39 is really great,” Undav said. 鈥淚 enjoy his matches. He only runs about 7 to 8 kilometers (4 to 5 miles) but what he does with the ball is amazing.鈥�
Nagelsmann apologized this spring for comments he made after Undav entered at the start of the second half in a March friendly against Ghana and scored a tiebreaking 88th-minute goal. Nagelsmann said Undav didn鈥檛 have the necessary stamina to be a starter and scored because his legs were fresh.
“Whether I鈥檓 in the starting lineup or later, it doesn鈥檛 matter,鈥� Undav said, seated next to his coach. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that the team wins. And I joined from the bench twice and we won the game. I鈥檓 very happy about that.鈥�
Neuer to remain in goal
Nagelsmann also plans to stay with 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who returned to the national team for the World Cup after a two-year absence, displacing Oliver Baumann. Nagelsmann said goalkeeper coach Andreas Kronenberg spoke with Baumann about the decision.
“Oliver really understood,” Nagelsmann said. 鈥淚 understand completely from the human side and if we only approached it that way it would be obvious, but we have to look at the large picture. It鈥檚 not always pleasant to make these decisions but those decisions have to be made.鈥�
Letter V shortage
Adidas, the German team’s equipment supplier, ran out of the letter V for a short time because of the popularity among fans wanting the jerseys of Undaz, Kai Havertz and Aleksandar Pavlovic. Supply has since been restocked.
鈥淢y friends, my family already have a jersey. I really didn鈥檛 have to order anything new,鈥� Undav said. 鈥淚’m very honored by it.鈥�
Ecuador on verge of elimination
Ecuador entered with a 19-game unbeaten streak before giving up a 90th-minute goal in an opening . John Yeboah and Alan Minda hit crossbar in first half against the Elephants and outshot Cura莽ao 28-10 in a , stymied by Eloy Room’s 15 saves
“I am convinced that we have a chance to meet our goals,” Ecuador coach Sebasti谩n Beccacece said. 鈥淲e’ll have the taste of happiness if we win and the taste of sorrow if we don鈥檛 and that鈥檚 life for you.”
Beccacece’s family confronted at Arrowhead Stadium
Ecuador’s coach said his family was confronted by an angry supporter after Saturday’s game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
鈥淚 talked to my wife, my daughters. They told me what happened. I haven鈥檛 seen it,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he first thing I asked was whether anything serious had happened. They said no. Nothing. And at the end of the day, I interpret this as a fan feeling hurt because of the results and then a daughter defending her father. I think anyone should be able to express themselves without reaching this level of confrontation.鈥�
___
AP World Cup:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
