Revitalizing the German Striker: A Return to Tradition

Mario Gomez, long overshadowed by Miroslav Klose, possessed the potential to be a formidable striker for the German national team. His profile as a target man, characterized by a keen goal-scoring instinct and solid finishing skills, mirrored Klose’s physical presence and aerial ability.

However, Gomez struggled to translate his club success with Stuttgart and Bayern Munich into international achievements. His time with the national team was marred by a nearly three-year goal drought in competitive matches, culminating in a notorious miss against Austria during Euro 2008, which drew derision from fans.

In Klose’s absence, Germany explored alternative striker roles, employing so-called false nines. Players like Mario Götze, Thomas Müller, Serge Gnabry, and Kai Havertz were tasked with filling this role, aiming to replace Klose’s power with a more nuanced approach to play. Unfortunately, after disappointing performances in three consecutive tournaments—the 2018 World Cup, Euro 2021, and the 2022 World Cup—it became evident that this strategy was ineffective.

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the German Football Association (DFB) faces an urgent question: where has the quintessential German striker gone?

This inquiry ties back to a decade and a half of youth development philosophy that has favored versatile attackers capable of interpreting space and engaging in pressing, typified by players like Götze. Despite his pivotal goal in the 2014 World Cup, Götze’s career has been viewed as somewhat unfulfilled.

Historically, training focused on robust finishers has dwindled, seen as outdated. The crucial skills of goal-scoring instinct and physical prowess—qualities exemplified by Gerd Müller—have been sacrificed for technical flexibility and attacking contributions.

The inclination toward players who engage in playmaking rather than traditional striking roles has resulted in a systematic diminishment of one of football’s most vital positions. While players like Thomas Müller, Götze, Timo Werner, and Havertz exhibit tactical sophistication, they often lack the clinical finishing required in decisive moments.

The prevailing belief that the attributes of a traditional Number 9 could be cultivated later in a player’s career, while prioritizing cognitive and technical skills earlier, proved misguided. Klose’s success stemmed not only from his physicality and competitiveness but also from his unwavering focus on scoring—a mentality that can be nurtured over time.

In Germany, promising young strikers were often encouraged to retreat and seek passes, foregoing their physical advantages in the most critical areas of the pitch. Training sessions became dominated by the fear of losing possession, stifling the raw instinct and improvisational skills essential to classic strikers.

Hannes Wolf, DFB’s director of development since summer 2023, acknowledged these errors, stating frankly in the Frankfurter Rundschau: “We have trained poorly. There’s no point in kidding ourselves. We were the worst of the top nations in terms of player development.”

Wolf aims to overhaul this training philosophy, emphasizing the need for specialized practice for strikers. He noted that in an 11-a-side match, a striker may only touch the ball around 30 times in 90 minutes, underscoring the inadequacy of large format training for developing goal-scorers.

The diminishing pool of German strikers has left the DFB searching for pragmatic solutions as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup. The late inclusion of Niclas Füllkrug in November 2022 marked a definitive shift from the false nine ideology. At 29 years old, Füllkrug, who debuted for the national team, embodied the qualities of a traditional striker: physical presence, heading ability, and finishing skills.

DFB sporting director Rudi Völler, a former striker himself, emphasized the need for players who can score essential goals, even if they seem straightforward. “We need this type of striker who guarantees goals and is also willing to do the dirty work,” Völler remarked, recognizing the current scarcity of top-tier strikers and the importance of nurturing emerging talent.

The emergence of Tim Kleindienst from Borussia Mönchengladbach further illustrates this return to form, as he was called up as a replacement for the injured Füllkrug. Both players provide the team with a vertical threat that alleviates pressure on midfielders and presents clear targets for wingers.

While neither Füllkrug nor Kleindienst may yet be world-class, they bring vital traits to the team, such as first-touch proficiency in the box and physicality. The DFB has realized that the classic striker cannot merely be replaced; rather, the role must be revitalized.

The challenge ahead is to avoid misplacing new talent and to cultivate their natural strengths. Nick Woltemade currently stands out as a player who merges the physicality of a classic striker with modern demands. At 23 years of age and nearly two meters tall, he possesses the potential to excel as a target man while also showcasing impressive technique.

Woltemade’s recent performances have caught the attention of Nagelsmann and Völler, who noted his technical skills and ability to maneuver past defenders. Völler believes that Woltemade’s improvements in heading and overall game understanding can set him on a promising career trajectory.

Woltemade embodies the bridge between Klose’s legacy and the contemporary requirements of top-tier football—a striker whose strengths lie in physicality and instinct, yet who understands tactical intricacies. His development will serve as a litmus test for the DFB’s new approach.

Nagelsmann expressed satisfaction with Woltemade’s progress, acknowledging that while there is work ahead, he is heading in the right direction.

To foster more players like Woltemade, a paradigm shift is necessary at all developmental levels. Youth coaches must embrace specialization in the striker position, with increased focus on individual training that hones shooting and heading under pressure. The frequency of these training scenarios, which Wolf has identified as essential, must rise significantly to preserve the instincts that defined strikers like Klose.

The DFB must ensure that future strikers regain the ability to seize critical moments in the penalty area, a hallmark of past legends. This correction within the framework of possession-based football is vital.

In doing so, the German national team, rich in technically skilled midfielders, can find one of the final pieces in its puzzle for success. While the hope for a return to form is tentative, the necessity for revitalizing the German goal-scoring tradition is undeniable, as the team strives to compete at the highest levels globally.