Germany’s Niclas Fullkrug (30) is delighted that centre forwards are back in high demand and topping scorers lists
in European leagues after a decade when coaches opted for ‘false nines’ in attack.
The Borussia Dortmund striker, who made his Germany debut at the age of 29 just before last year’s World Cup in Qatar,
has quickly established himself as the first choice in attack with nine goals in his 11 internationals.READ MORE
He is expected to lead the line at next year’s Euro 2024 on home soil.
But for years players like Fullkrug, who play best inside the box, were overlooked in favour of a different kind
of forward with a different set of skills.
“I can remember that time,” Fullkrug told a press conference on Tuesday. “It is not that I felt out of place.
It was a case of supply and demand and at the time it was the trend to play with a fake nine, to play with highly skilled and smaller players.”
Until the arrival of Fuellkrug in the national team in November 2022, Germany had not played with an out-and-out
striker for almost a decade and ever since winning the World Cup in 2014 with Miroslav Klose becoming record all-time scorer.
