Deniz Undav Receives Support from Thomas Müller and Jürgen Klopp. A debate has erupted within the German national team over the starting lineup for the match against Curaçao. Thomas Müller and Jürgen Klopp have publicly backed Deniz Undav. The coach's decision remains unchanged.
Ahead of Germany's opening match at the World Cup against Curaçao, attention was focused not only on the opponent but also on internal debates regarding the lineup. Forward Deniz Undav, who plays for VfB Stuttgart, became the center of discussion after Thomas Müller and Jürgen Klopp publicly stated that he should be in the starting eleven instead of Jamal Musiala from Bayern München. The opinion of these two prominent figures sparked considerable discussion in German football circles.
Undav himself reacted calmly to the situation, noting that the support from Müller and Klopp is important to him and shows that he is moving in the right direction. According to him, the national team has enough strong players, and whoever takes the field, the team can expect results. He also emphasized that he treats any remarks from experienced colleagues as motivation for further growth, not as pressure.
Germany's head coach Julian Nagelsmann, despite the public statements from Müller and Klopp, did not change his plans regarding the starting lineup. According to Bild, the coach intends to continue relying on Jamal Musiala, who has consistently shown excellent form. In the upcoming match against Curaçao, this decision is unlikely to be critical, but as the level of opposition increases, the question of which forward to choose may once again come to the forefront.
The topic of the German national team lineup and Curaçao's debut has already been discussed in the article about the start of Group E, which noted the return of Manuel Neuer and the focus on youth. Details about the first match and the features of the opponents can be found in the publication about Curaçao's debut at the World Cup.
For reference: Deniz Undav became one of the top scorers in the Bundesliga in the 2025/26 season, which drew the attention not only of the coaching staff but also of leading German players and coaches. Jamal Musiala, despite his young age, is already considered a key player for Bayern München and the national team. Julian Nagelsmann has led the national team since 2024 and is known for his willingness to experiment, although he prefers to rely on proven performers in decisive matches. The German national team traditionally faces high expectations at major tournaments, and any debates regarding the lineup attract close attention from fans and experts.
