Germany 4-0 Finland: Deniz Undav Shines Before World Cup Opener

Germany eased past Finland 4-0 in Mainz in their final pre-World Cup home friendly, with Deniz Undav scoring twice and assisting once before an injury scare, while Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz also struck as Julian Nagelsmann’s team produced a dominant performance ahead of travelling to the United States.

The hosts controlled the match from the start and converted their superiority into four goals, with Undav opening the scoring before the break, then creating Wirtz’s finish and adding a second himself, while Musiala completed the rout as Finland failed to register a single shot on target.

Undav’s display answered questions about Germany’s number nine role, as Undav hit the target with all four attempts, scored twice and assisted once, while also creating three chances for team-mates, a figure bettered only by Joshua Kimmich and teenager Lennart Karl, who each produced four key passes for Nagelsmann’s side.

The Stuttgart forward missed two clear openings early on, with Lukas Hradecky denying Undav from close range in the eighth minute and then in a one-on-one situation after 27 minutes, yet Undav finally broke through in the 34th minute by heading Kimmich’s precise cross inside the far post to reward Germany’s pressure.

Germany’s attacking numbers underlined their superiority, as the hosts produced 22 shots and a total expected goals figure of 3.8, while Finland managed seven efforts worth 0.4 xG, none troubling goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who started as Manuel Neuer continued to wait before linking up with the squad.

Nagelsmann selected a strong starting group despite the friendly setting, limiting opportunities for fringe players to influence World Cup plans, yet Undav used the chance well by outperforming an xG of 1.37, which strengthened Undav’s argument to start Germany’s World Cup opener against Curacao on June 14, assuming Undav remains fit.

Germany’s second goal arrived three minutes after half-time when Adam Markhiev misplaced a pass towards Ville Koski, allowing Undav to intercept and square for Wirtz to finish calmly, then Karl struck the post before releasing Undav for a composed 57th-minute finish past Hradecky, though Undav immediately clutched the right thigh and went off for Maximilian Beier.

Undav later returned to the touchline, walking comfortably and greeting Germany’s substitutes, while Musiala soon drove a left-footed strike into the top-left corner for the fourth goal, then grazed the side netting late on, as Beier saw one effort cleared off the line and Nadiem Amiri drilled wide, with Finland avoiding heavier defeat.

With a 4-0 win, a clean sheet and a fluid attack, Germany headed towards their final pre-tournament friendly against the United States in Chicago on Saturday with confidence, though Nagelsmann and staff would still monitor Undav’s condition closely, given the clear need for a reliable central forward option.