Germany’s 7-1 win over Curaçao on matchday one left Julian Nagelsmann with a simple problem for Germany's second Group E game against Ivory Coast: who starts in attack? Deniz Undav has 25 goals at club level last season and 11 goal contributions in 10 caps for Germany, while Kai Havertz already has two goals at this World Cup. Leroy Sané was the only member of Germany’s front four not to contribute in the opener.

Why Undav has made the strongest case

The numbers are doing real work for Undav. His 25 club goals last season are the kind of return that gets noticed, but the more relevant point is the speed of his international output: seven goals and four assists in just 10 caps for Germany. That is enough to put pressure on any starting XI, especially after he impressed off the bench in a team that scored seven.

Havertz is still hard to move out of the picture. He scored a brace against Curaçao, and that kind of return gives Nagelsmann a straightforward reason to keep him central. If Germany want continuity, Havertz probably has the edge. If they want to reward end product and recent momentum, Undav has a serious argument.

Sané is the attacker under the most scrutiny because the opener simply did not go through him. That does not make this a verdict on his level, but it does mean the room for debate is wider than it was before kick-off against Curaçao.

What Germany are weighing before Ivory Coast

Nagelsmann is considering changes to his starting lineup, according to sportsmole.co.uk, and that feels right after a game in which Joshua Kimmich also delivered two assists from wide areas. Germany’s threat was not limited to the central striker, which makes the front-line call more interesting than a simple case of keeping the scorer.

The cleanest read is that Havertz remains the most secure of the three, Undav has pushed himself into the discussion, and Sané has the most to prove. Germany do not need a full rebuild for Germany vs Ivory Coast, but they do need to decide whether the opener deserves to be repeated or adjusted.

A change would be a reward for Undav’s form and a recognition of how well Germany’s attack functioned with pace and production around him. Keeping Havertz central would be the safer choice. Either way, Nagelsmann has a genuine selection decision rather than a settled front line, and that is the real takeaway before Saturday.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →