FIFA World Cup 2026: Germany delivered a commanding performance to defeat Finland in Mainz on the eve of their departure for the United States, with striker Deniz Undav leading the way in an emphatic win.

The Stuttgart forward scored twice and provided an assist in a standout display, reinforcing his growing importance to Julian Nagelsmann’s squad ahead of the World Cup. Pleased with the attacking output, Nagelsmann said his team’s mentality remains a key strength.

“We can keep going like this,” the Germany head coach said. “One of our strengths is that we always look like we can score.”

While pre-tournament friendlies often offer limited tactical insight, this match served its primary purpose-boosting confidence and maintaining fitness. With less than two weeks until the World Cup, experimentation is minimal and the focus remains on sharpness and avoiding injuries.

Jamal Musiala’s return to the scoresheet was another major positive for Germany, marking a confidence boost after his extended injury layoff. Youngster Lennart Karl also impressed with a lively display and came close to scoring, while Nathaniel Brown showed attacking promise from the left flank, giving Nagelsmann further selection headaches.

However, history suggests caution when interpreting such results. Germany’s mixed performances in pre-tournament friendlies in recent years have not always reflected their outcomes in major competitions. Ahead of Euro 2024, they struggled in a narrow win over Greece but later impressed during the tournament. Conversely, a modest victory over Oman before the 2022 World Cup preceded a group-stage exit.

Despite that, Undav’s performance stood out as the defining takeaway. The striker, who was publicly criticised by Nagelsmann earlier this year before receiving an apology, has responded emphatically. His latest contribution strengthens his case for a starting role, even as Kai Havertz remains the preferred option.

“If you score two goals and provide an assist, you don’t play yourself out of the team,” Nagelsmann added.

Germany will now travel to Chicago for one final friendly against the United States before settling into their base camp in North Carolina. With just eight days between that match and their World Cup opener against Curaçao in Houston, preparations are entering their final phase.

Germany’s World Cup campaign is now firmly underway.

With inputs from DW.