“Can’t get past Füllkrug” – Matthäus speaks to Klopp’s conscience

It is relatively certain that Jürgen Klopp will not come up with any big surprises on Thursday. The national coach will probably leave out offensive players such as Deniz Undav from VfB Stuttgart or Leroy Sané from Galatasaray, who was part of the national team until the summer, from the nomination for the games in the Nations League in Belgrade against Serbia (November 13th) and in Berlin against the Netherlands (November 16th).

But there is a question that needs to be clarified that is becoming more and more obvious: How to deal with Niclas Füllkrug?

The Bremen striker scores like he's on an assembly line. In the 2-0 win against Hoffenheim at the weekend, he scored at least one goal in the seventh game in a row, equaling the record set by Werder legend Rudi Völler, who achieved this in the 1982/83 season. A total of nine goals after eight match days – like Füllkrug – had never been scored by anyone from Bremen. Not even Völler.

“Niclas Füllkrug is 33. That’s not my fault,” says Klopp

Now Füllkrug's last appearance in the DFB team was a while ago: in June 2025 in the 2-0 defeat against France. Given his newfound glory in the penalty area, will there be more to come in addition to the 33-year-old's 24 international appearances (16 goals)? According to Lothar Matthäus, the answer is: Yes, please. From the point of view of the record national player, there is no alternative to the appointment. “We can’t get past Niclas Füllkrug, who leads the Bundesliga’s top scorers list with nine goals,” wrote Matthäus in his Sky column.

But Klopp has already indirectly indicated that he may be planning differently. "Niclas Füllkrug scores one goal after the other in the Bundesliga, but he's 33. That's not my fault," Klopp said on DAZN: "We have a present, a medium-term future and a long-term future. Of course it can work in the present, and in the medium term under certain circumstances too. In the long term, yes, so we'll have to see now..."

“No matter what age”

But Matthäus is "not of the opinion that we only have to rely on young players. We should rely on players who can recommend themselves with strong performances on the pitch, no matter what age they are."

In any case, Füllkrug is currently in the form of his life and scores at will: whether with his head, his feet or from the penalty spot. But he doesn't just impress with his hits. It is also the way the striker drives and pulls a team along.

“The professionalism that he exemplifies in every training session and in every game is impressive and rubs off on the other players,” praised defender Amos Pieper. Coach Daniel Thioune went even further. He described Füllkrug as an “X factor”, most recently after his impressive goal against Hoffenheim: “Niclas is our locomotive.”

In addition, in the first four international matches under Klopp's direction, no striker scored a goal. In order to avoid relegation from the Nations League, the DFB team absolutely needs victories against Serbia and the Netherlands - and goals.

For Matthew the matter is therefore clear. "In other countries there are also players who are still playing for their national team at the age of 33 and are used in World and European Championships," he stated: "If there is no one else there, I would also take a 33-year-old with me. For me, it is not the number of age that counts, but the number of goals and the player's achievements. Klopp said he can't help it that Füllkrug is already 33. Harry Kane is also 33 and Thomas Tuchel invites him anyway."

But Klopp relies on fast-paced football and pressing. At its premiere, the desired high-speed football was rudimentarily visible. As outstanding as Füllkrug is currently in form, speed is not one of his strengths.

Bremen wants to extend with Füllkrug

In Bremen and at the DFB they also know about his injuries from the past. Werder coach Thioune therefore put him on the bench for an hour in the cup game in Dortmund and thus accepted elimination. How Füllkrug's body reacts to double stress is uncertain.

The truth is also: Füllkrug was unable to assert himself at West Ham United in England and AC Milan in Italy. During his presentation in Bremen, he admitted that he had underestimated the differences between the leagues. West Ham therefore did not put any obstacles in the striker's way when it came to making the loan to his heart club Werder possible.

Technically, the loan player has to go to London next summer, where his contract runs until 2028. In Bremen, however, they have long been working on a different plan. “We would very much like to continue with Niclas beyond the summer,” said sports director Clemens Fritz to the Internet portal “Deichstube”. Fritz said he knew that Füllkrug “can well imagine that too.”