Niclas Fullkrug leads Germany out of danger in Euro 2024

The players from Germany and the majority of the 46,685 spectators who filled Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt celebrated as though Niclas Fullkrug's header had won the match in the 92nd (90+2) minute. In actuality, Dan Ndoye's goal from the 28th minute was only negated by an equalizer. one that on Sunday night saw Germany steal a 1-1 draw with Switzerland. 

One that prevented Germany from suffering their first major event loss to Switzerland since the 1938 FIFA World Cup. One which meant that, in spite of a far from convincing performance, Germany emerged victorious from Group A and would now need a timely reality check before facing the winners of Group C in the Euro 2024 round of 16.

Germany did have the upper hand in possession that evening (62% to 38%), but if the home team was behind their neighbors for sixty-four minutes before Fullkrug's last-minute goal helped them escape, it was because they were not sharp enough with the ball in the closing third to penetrate a tight Swiss defense.

Ultimately, it took two stand-ins to pull off the Germany rescue act. David Raum, the left back who was brought on in the 61st minute, drove in a cross from the left into the center of the six-yard box with just a few minutes remaining for the referee to sound the final whistle. Bringing on in the 76th minute, Fullkrug—a classic target man—did just that, vaulting over his defender and exerting all of his neck's strength to smash a forceful header back across Yann Sommer. The seasoned Swiss goalie was left with little choice but to observe the ball's trajectory as it entered the net.

Julian Nagelsmann, the manager of Germany, would want to consider Fullkrug's goal in the upcoming games. The 36-year-old strategist started all three games with the same lineup, although there may be some disagreement about whether to start the Borussia Dortmund attacker right away. The 31-year-old Fullkrug has started in just six of Germany's 19 games, but he has already scored 13 goals.