Berlin, March 31 (NationPress) Coach Julian Nagelsmann of Germany is increasingly worried about his striking options as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, with no standout forward establishing themselves as the primary choice.

Nagelsmann recently visited Eindhoven to observe Ecuador, one of Germany's group rivals, compete against the Netherlands in a friendly. Concerns linger regarding Germany's offensive capabilities, especially the absence of a dependable striker in the penalty area.

The coach has been counting on Nick Woltemade from Newcastle, Kai Havertz from Arsenal, and Deniz Undav from Stuttgart. However, Woltemade and Havertz are currently experiencing a decline in form at their clubs, while Nagelsmann has labeled Undav as more of a secondary option, as reported by Xinhua.

Woltemade's performance has been subpar, and Havertz is gradually returning after an extended injury layoff. Among Germany's attacking midfielders, Leroy Sane from Galatasaray and the Bayern Munich duo of Serge Gnabry and Lennart Karl have also struggled with consistency.

Despite being only 18, Karl showed potential in the recent 2-1 victory over Ghana, while Florian Wirtz has been the standout performer, contributing two goals and two assists in last week's thrilling 4-3 win against Switzerland, despite his inconsistent club form with Liverpool.

On the other hand, Undav has shone for Stuttgart, netting 23 goals and providing 13 assists in 38 matches and scoring a late winner for Germany in Stuttgart. Nonetheless, Nagelsmann has suggested that Undav performs best as an impact substitute. "I informed the players of their roles," Nagelsmann stated, adding that Undav "is only effective as a substitute," as he struggles with performances exceeding 90 minutes.

Supporter tensions have also emerged, with Sane being booed by German fans during the Ghana match, in contrast to Undav, who received enthusiastic support. Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger was similarly booed following a series of mistakes.

Nagelsmann has faced backlash for continuing to support Sane and Rudiger while showing confidence in Karl. "He is immediately involved in the game. He must maintain that momentum and accumulate minutes at Bayern," the coach commented.

With the final World Cup roster set to be announced on May 12, Sane's position appears precarious, while Karl is making a strong case for selection.

Nagelsmann has tempered expectations, stating that Germany is not among the tournament's frontrunners. "However, we can still compete effectively," he remarked, also expressing his discontent with the fans' reactions. "I can't comprehend the boos directed at our players from our own supporters."