Germany 2-1 Ghana: Undav rescues Nagelsmann’s reboot in Stuttgart
Germany needed Deniz Undav’s calm finish in the 88th minute to squeeze past Ghana in Stuttgart on Monday, a late intervention that keeps Julian Nagelsmann’s reboot on course. The friendly swung on Germany’s depth after a slow first half in which Ghana’s 5-4-1 held most of the answers.
Kai Havertz put the hosts in front from the penalty spot in the 45+3rd minute once VAR confirmed Jonas Adjei Adjetey’s foul on the forward. Even that breakthrough felt laboured. Germany dominated the ball yet failed to dismantle Otto Addo’s low block before the interval.
Nagelsmann reacted with authority: three changes at the restart, Lennart Karl, Antonio Rüdiger and Undav replacing Havertz, Jonathan Tah and Serge Gnabry. The reshuffle sharpened Germany’s press and added mobility around Nick Woltemade, but it also opened lanes for Ghana to run. Addo countered in the 56th minute by introducing Derrick Luckassen and then Abdul Fatawu Issahaku in the 66th minute, moves that tilted the rhythm.
The payoff arrived four minutes later. Abdul Fatawu Issahaku levelled in the 70th minute, finishing after Derrick Köhn had surged forward from wing back and supplied the assist. Nico Schlotterbeck collected a yellow card in the 72nd minute as Germany briefly lost control.
Leroy Sané, sent on in the 78th minute, restored Germany’s edge. His angled pass in the 88th minute carved Ghana open and Undav applied the winning touch. Germany’s analysts were already noting the effect of Sané’s width stretching Ghana’s back five in those closing phases.
Early discipline also mattered. Adjetey went into the book in the 5th minute. Prince Kwabena Adu followed in the 59th minute, Elisha Owusu in the 65th minute and Schlotterbeck in the 72nd minute as the match grew spiky around midfield duels.
Shape and adjustments
Germany started in a 4-2-3-1 with Joshua Kimmich inverting from right back, stepping into midfield to dictate play. He attempted 120 passes and completed 114 of them for 95 percent accuracy, setting the tempo, but the lack of penetration before the break underlined how static the front four became against Ghana’s compact 5-4-1.
Nagelsmann’s quadruple switch on 61 minutes, bringing in Leon Goretzka, Chris Führich, David Raum and Josha Vagnoman, finally provided the thrust around the box. Raum’s overlaps pinned Ghana’s right flank while Führich attacked the half-spaces that Florian Wirtz had been operating in. Sané’s late cameo then forced Ghana’s back line to retreat, giving Undav the room to score.
Addo’s plan revolved around a disciplined back five, Alexander Djiku anchoring alongside Adjei Adjetey and Kojo Peprah Oppong until Luckassen’s arrival. Ghana targeted transitions down Köhn’s channel, and the combination with Abdul Fatawu Issahaku on the equaliser was the clearest execution of that brief. Thomas Partey screened diligently in front but Ghana’s inability to keep the ball in Germany’s half once Sané arrived proved decisive.
Numbers
- Shots: Germany 23, Ghana 6
- On target: Germany 6, Ghana 1
- Possession: Germany 69 percent, Ghana 31 percent
- Corners: Germany 9, Ghana 4
- Saves: Benjamin Asare 4, Alexander Nübel 0
Outlook
Germany close the March window with momentum under Nagelsmann before the squad disperses ahead of the June qualifiers. Ghana, after a resilient showing, will review the late lapse as they prepare for their next build-up fixture in April. For wider African international coverage, see how Zimbabwe handled Botswana in Nees Era Takes Shape with Ruthless Zimbabwe Rout of Botswana.
