In a rain-soaked friendly match in Stuttgart, substitute Deniz Undav delivered a dramatic 88th-minute winner to secure Germany a 2-1 victory over Ghana, intensifying pressure on coach Julian Nagelsmann to include him in the upcoming World Cup squad. The match, played at Undav’s home club stadium, saw the Stuttgart forward rewarded for his exceptional club form with a clever chipped finish over Ghana’s goalkeeper just as the game appeared destined for a draw.
The German lineup featured four changes from their previous outing, including starter Nick Woltemade who struck the crossbar with a second-half header. The hosts initially took the lead just before halftime when Kai Havertz converted a penalty after Jonas Adjetey’s handball offense. Ghana equalized in the 70th minute through a swift counterattack finished by Abdul Fatuwu, with Germany-born Derrick Köhn providing the assist after beating defender Josha Vagnoman.
The victory extends Germany’s winning streak to seven consecutive matches, though the performance fell short of expectations following their impressive 4-3 victory against Switzerland. The match was marred by an injury to Ghana defender Kojo Peprah Oppong, who required assistance leaving the pitch after challenging Woltemade.
Both teams continue their World Cup preparations with additional friendlies scheduled. Germany will face Finland in May and co-host the United States in June before competing in Group E against Curacao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador. Ghana, meanwhile, has now suffered four consecutive friendly defeats and will compete in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia.