For Kai Havertz, it was all the same as the summer home European Championships when the national team got off to a good start in the Nations League. The 25-year-old scored another superb penalty in the 5-0 win over Hungary. However, the Arsenal professional was once again unlucky with a couple of top-class scoring opportunities in the match.
“He still has his moments of bad luck at the end,” said Julian Nagelsmann. Havertz was stopped once by the goalkeeper and hit the post twice. “Kai’s header and shot over the bar were good,” said the national team coach, who left no doubt about Havertz ahead of Tuesday’s (8.45pm/RTL) clash with European semi-finalists Netherlands in Amsterdam. Of course, he is still committed to attacking and has now taken on a more subdued role since Ilkay Gundogan’s resignation from the DFB.
Havertz can shape DFB game
The home game was similar in terms of efficiency. Havertz successfully took charge of the penalty kicks in the European Championships against Scotland (5:1) and Denmark (2:0). And other than those two goals? They weren’t there for him. Havertz also missed several times in the quarterfinals against Spain.
Nagelsmann has confirmed that the DFB’s most successful goalscorer (19 goals in 52 international matches) is world-class in several positions. “Kai is a very good age and has the potential to help shape the team’s image,” the national team coach said. For him, Havertz is an important component for the 2026 World Cup.
Captain Joshua Kimmich told his assistant coach after the Nations League opener against Hungary that he would “let go” of every goal. But Havertz is “irreplaceable at the moment” in attack. Perhaps Havertz’s knot will break in Amsterdam.
Havertz did not score in the match. Photo: Fabian Strauch/dpa
