Germany Finds Its No. 9 – Just in Time

In the end, Germany did have a No. 9 after all. His name is Niclas Füllkrug – a late-blooming, broad-shouldered forward from Werder Bremen, 29 years old and barely a dozen days into his international career. Yet when the moment demanded it, he delivered. With just seven minutes remaining and Germany teetering on the brink of World Cup elimination, Füllkrug stepped forward, lashing a thunderous equalizer past Unai Simón. A strike of raw intent, it revived Germany’s hopes, sent him racing to the touchline into Hansi Flick’s arms, and turned tension into collective relief.

Earlier in the day, Costa Rica's unexpected victory over Japan had already altered the group dynamics, injecting Germany's situation with a tentative optimism. But the drama in Al Khor was not diminished. Füllkrug’s intervention transformed the narrative: Germany still need to beat Costa Rica, and even then, their fate remains hostage to Japan and Spain. Yet crucially, the Mannschaft now have a lifeline. The abyss they peered into is not yet their grave.

Spain, too, remain unsettled. Though they lead the so-called "group of death," this match shifted perceptions. When Álvaro Morata opened the scoring with a deft finish – a masterclass in timing and execution with the outside of his boot – it seemed Germany were destined for a second successive group-stage exit. Luis Enrique had spoken before about stylistic similarities between the two sides, but for long spells, Germany looked the imitator to Spain’s original.

And yet by the end of a richly entertaining encounter, a draw felt fair – even insufficient for Germany. Leroy Sané, introduced late, nearly snatched victory after breezing around Simón, only to find the angle too narrow. He, like Füllkrug, transformed the game’s rhythm and must surely be considered for the starting XI going forward.

Spain’s possession was more abundant, but not absolute. Germany’s pressing grew bolder as the game progressed, unsettling the usually imperious midfield of Gavi and Pedri. Dani Carvajal and Sergio Busquets, typically models of composure, were rushed and rattled. Simón, always something of a high-wire act in goal, flirted again with calamity – inviting panic with his footwork, then rescuing himself with crucial saves.

Opportunities abounded for both sides. Germany thought they had struck first when Antonio Rüdiger powered in a header, only to see it ruled offside – a fraction too eager, a moment too soon. Spain nearly capitalized at the other end when Dani Olmo’s venomous strike was tipped onto the bar by Manuel Neuer, followed shortly by Jordi Alba flashing a shot wide.

At times, Spain danced through the German press – Pedri’s pirouettes a particular delight – but that composure faltered under persistent harassment. In the second half, Flick’s side asserted themselves further. Simón had to save smartly from Joshua Kimmich after a string of careless losses by Rodri, Pedri, and even Simón himself.

And then came the breakthrough. Spain’s opener was elegance in motion – Busquets to Olmo to Alba, whose low delivery was met with a darting run by Morata and dispatched clinically. For a moment, it felt decisive.

But Germany responded with urgency. Flick unleashed Sané and Füllkrug, whose energy instantly reinvigorated the attack. Jamal Musiala, already a constant threat, danced between defenders, combining deftly with his new support. One slick move saw Musiala almost pick out Füllkrug at the near post. Another, fed by Sané, required a sprawling stop from Simón.

From the resulting corner, Füllkrug rose to head just over. But he was not done. The breakthrough came in the 83rd minute: Musiala, twisting in the box, found himself crowded out, but the ball broke kindly. Füllkrug latched onto it and smashed it high into the net – a striker’s finish, clinical and emphatic.

Suddenly, Germany believed. Spain had lost their grip. Kimmich’s free-kick into the wall followed. Then came the moment – and the man.

Füllkrug: improbable hero, necessary presence, and now, the face of Germany’s resistance.

This was a game of shifting tides and unresolved questions. Both teams revealed their flaws, but also their resilience. For Spain, the control they cherish was fleeting. For Germany, the identity they feared lost may just be rediscovered in the form of an old-school centre-forward with a modern hunger.

The Mannschaft are not out. Not yet.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar