Could Niclas Füllkrug rekindle the spirit of Oliver Bierhoff and become the hero at Euro 2024?

There have been lengthy debates on whether Niclas Füllkrug should start for Germany. However, the story of Oliver Bierhoff highlights that he might be more valuable off the bench.

Niclas Füllkrug had done it again. The Borussia Dortmund striker had scored late to equalize for Germany against Switzerland and rescue a critical point. With that 1-1 draw, Germany won Group A and kept the momentum going from the first two group stage matches.

“The goal is something that can unleash something,” Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann said after the game. “That is something we can’t underestimate.” Indeed, it was quiet in the Waldstadion, and there seemed to be a fear that the goodwill the national team had built over the last few games would disappear.

Instead, Füllkrug popped up and made it 1-1. It was Füllkrug’s 13th goal in just 19 games for Germany. Füllkrug scored those goals in just 750 minutes of playing time; in other words, the Dortmund target man scores every 58 minutes for his country.