Germany's Fuellkrug Celebrates Return of Traditional Strikers in Football

 Germany's Fuellkrug Celebrates Return of Traditional Strikers in Football

Niclas Fuellkrug and Marvin Ducksch speak to the media during a press conference of the German national team at DFB-Campus on November 14, 2023 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.(Image-Getty)

Niclas Fuellkrug of Germany expresses joy at the resurgence of demand for traditional center-forwards in European leagues, marking a shift from the era of 'false nines.' The Borussia Dortmund striker, making his Germany debut at 29, has become a focal point in attack, tallying nine goals in 11 internationals and is anticipated to lead the line in Euro 2024.

Reflecting on the past decade's trend of favoring skillful, smaller players in the false-nine role, Fuellkrug acknowledges the change, stating, "Now it has developed into the other direction, which is no accident, and I am happy." He highlights the impact of world-class players like Erling Haaland and Harry Kane, emphasizing the joy of goal-scoring in football.

Haaland, from Manchester City, tops the Premier League scoring charts, while Bayern Munich's Kane has notched a record-breaking 17 goals in his first 11 Bundesliga games. Fuellkrug sees this shift as a positive trend, influencing younger players and boosting the popularity of traditional strikers.

In a reunion with former Werder Bremen teammate Marwin Duksch at the national team, another late bloomer at 29, Fuellkrug emphasizes the importance of performance evaluation. Duksch, receiving his first call-up for friendly internationals, underlines the optimal age of 29 for continued player development, contributing to the resurgence of center-forwards.