“I just try to contribute” – Undav reflects on super-sub role | OneFootball

After Deniz Undav racked up three goals and two assists off the bench in Germany’s first two World Cup games, German media suggested he was in line for a start in the final group-stage match against Ecuador.

However, as head coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed ahead of the game, Undav will once again begin on the bench, with the 38-year-old opting to stick with his starting XI from the opening two matches, aside from injury-enforced changes.

Undav accepted the decision without complaint.

“I just try to contribute, whether that's coming off the bench or starting,” Undav said at a press conference. 

"The most important thing is that the team wins – that comes first. Everything else has to take a back seat. I simply try to do my job, and that's worked out well over the first two matches."

The VfB Stuttgart forward is looking forward to the game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, which has a capacity of more than 82,000.

“The stadium is enormous, so the atmosphere should be fantastic again. There are a lot of German fans here, and I hope the support will be just as good as it was against Ivory Coast,” he said.

The only two changes from the starting XI against Ivory Coast are expected to be Antonio Rüdiger coming in for Nico Schlotterbeck, who has been ruled out of the tournament, and David Raum replacing Nathaniel Brown, who will miss the game as a precaution.