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Full Noise by SN
Four-time world champs score another warm-up win
AP • March 31st, 2026 9:00 am
A Deniz Undav strike has secured a seventh win in a row for Germany ahead of their World Cup tilt | Photo: PA
Deniz Undav has turned up the pressure on Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann to select him for the World Cup after he scored the winner against Ghana to back up strong club form.
Undav hadn't played for Germany since last June but seven goals in his last six Bundesliga games helped him earn a recall. Germany were playing Monday night's (Tuesday NZT) friendly at the home stadium of his club Stuttgart and fans chanted for Undav long before he came off the bench.
The game, which finished 2-1, seemed to be fizzling out to a draw when he flicked the ball over Ghana's goalkeeper in the 88th minute to give Germany a seventh successive win.
Ghana's Abdul Fatuwu earlier scored on the counter to cancel out Kai Havertz's penalty.
Kai Havertz slots home Germany's opener, his 20th goal for the national team | Photo: AP
After Florian Wirtz's spectacular attacking display in a 4-3 win in Switzerland on Saturday, Germany were expected to score high against an opponent coming off a 5-1 loss to Austria.
Nick Woltemade started in one of four German changes but his main impact was heading against the bar in the second half.
Havertz put the hosts ahead with his penalty just before halftime after Jonas Adjetey blocked a shot with his arm. Ghana levelled in the 70th when Germany-born Derrick Koehn surged down the left flank, beat defender Josha Vagnoman and crossed low for Fatawu to score.
German fans are hoping their skipper will be holding the World Cup trophy in New Jersey in July | Photo: AP
Germany have further pre-World Cup friendlies against Finland in May and co-hosts the United States in June before facing Curacao, the Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E action.
Ghana have lost four friendlies in a row and are in Group L with Panama, England and Croatia.
In other action involving World Cup finalists, first-timers Uzbekistan drew 0-0 with Venezuela in Tashkent before winning a penalty shootout 5-4.
