Dominant send-off in Mainz

Germany's national team gave their fans a reason for optimism with a clear 4-0 win against Finland in Mainz on Sunday evening. The match, played in front of 25,122 spectators in a sold-out stadium, was the team's penultimate test before departing for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The victory extends the team's winning streak and provided coach Julian Nagelsmann with several positive takeaways, though the level of the opponent, who failed to qualify for the tournament, was acknowledged as a limited benchmark.

Undav's statement performance

Striker Deniz Undav was the standout performer, seizing a rare start to score two goals and provide an assist. He opened the scoring in the 34th minute, set up Florian Wirtz for the second goal shortly after halftime in the 48th minute, and then completed his brace in the 57th minute. The Stuttgart forward, who has often been a substitute under Nagelsmann, made a compelling case for a more prominent role. After the match, he rated his evening a "10 out of 10" and played down a knock that forced him off the pitch.

“A bit of pain, but nothing wild. A few days of treatment and everything will be fine again.”

Injury concern and quick reassurance

Undav's brilliant performance was briefly overshadowed by a moment of concern. After scoring his second goal, he went to ground clutching his thigh and was attended to by medical staff before being substituted in the 59th minute and heading directly to the locker room. The sight of the double goalscorer leaving the pitch caused a scare, but he later returned to the field to celebrate with teammates and fans, providing reassurance that the injury was not serious.

Other standout performers

Beyond Undav, several other players impressed. Bayern Munich's Lennart Karl, making his first start for the national team, delivered a precise assist for Undav's second goal and showed great potential. Florian Wirtz, shaking off any lingering disappointment from his club season, scored a goal and was a constant threat with his dribbling. Jamal Musiala capped the scoring in the 63rd minute, finding the net for a confidence-boosting comeback goal after a period without his usual lightness of touch. Nathaniel Brown also made a strong case for a starting spot at left-back with a fine technical performance.

Looking ahead to the World Cup

The team will fly to Chicago on Tuesday for a final tournament dress rehearsal against the United States on Saturday. At the World Cup, Germany will compete in Group E, facing Curaçao on June 14, Ivory Coast on June 20, and Ecuador on June 25. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer missed the Finland match as he continues recovery from a calf issue, with his availability for the tournament still a key question mark.