Who is Niklas Fulkrugta again?
That was the question for many Germans two weeks ago. Stay away from the national team, who has not been seen regularly in the Bundesliga. He did not play in any big club. Many people were curious to see Hansi Flick's name in the World Cup team. Come the last week of November, Fulkrug is now known not only to Germans, but to visitors from all over the world.
It is the 29-year-old forward who has provided a 'lifeline' to struggling Germany at the World Cup in Qatar. Germany, who lost to Japan and went to the edge of the pit, kept their hopes of the last sixteen alive by drawing 1-1 with Spain with Fulkrug's goal.
However, in October of last year, Fulkrug wanted to give up football. Werder Bremen was then in the second tier of the German league. Will fight to return to the top level, on the contrary, the position has dropped to number 10 in the points list. Fulkrug was also disappointed with himself. No goals in 10 matches. At that time, the sporting director Clemens was thinking of quitting the game after quarreling with Fritz. But whose blood is football, football does not leave him!
Both father and grandfather played professional football. His sister still plays for Hannover 96. Fulkrug began his professional career with Werder Bremen. Played in Germany U-19 and U-20 teams. But due to injury and form, he could not keep pace. Repeatedly changed clubs, lost career momentum.
After Bremen, went to Nuremberg, Hanover and joined Bremen again in 2019. After two years in the Bundesliga, the club was relegated to the second tier in the 2021–22 season. Then the thought of giving up the game. However, he took the challenge to bring a new dawn in his career at the age of 28.
It is that inner urge that changes him. He scored 19 goals in 33 matches in the second tier of the Bundesliga. Bremen are also promoted to the Bundesliga. This is where the second chapter of Fullkrug begins. In the previous two Bundesliga games for Bremen, where he scored 10 goals in 27 matches, this time he scored 10 goals in the first 14 matches. Which is the highest among German strikers.
Despite such a fast rhythm, there was uncertainty whether Germany would be in the World Cup team or not. Never played in the national team. The question was whether it would be right to be dropped for the first time on the World Cup stage at the age of 29. The question may have been on Hansie Flick's mind as well. However, Timo Werner's injury eased Flick's thinking. Fulkrug was called up to the national team for the first time.
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