Germany have advanced to the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time since 2014, and forward Kai Havertz says the team feels a renewed sense of duty and momentum. Speaking from Germany's base in Winston, North Carolina, Havertz reflected on the group stage success that has lifted the weight of early exits in 2018 and 2022.
Havertz on Past Failures and New Energy
“We knew we had a duty not to fail early on again. We are Germany. But now the tournament is really just beginning,” Havertz said. The 27-year-old scored twice in a 7-1 demolition of Curaçao and added a goal in the late win over Côte d'Ivoire, helping Germany top Group E. “There’s a different energy in our squad now. I was quickly convinced that things would go better this year.”
Havertz admitted the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was a low point: “Qatar was anything but successful for us as a team and for me personally.” Germany managed 42 shots across their two group matches, and Havertz believes the joy of playing has returned. “We radiate a real joy in playing. We move a lot, play offensively and create scoring chances. And we bounce back after conceding goals.”
Unique Playing Style and Role
Havertz, who has 24 goals in 60 caps for Germany, described his unconventional style as being “like a ghost to defenders.” He said: “Defenders should never know where I am, where I’m going, what I’m planning, or where I’ll be at any given moment. That’s the worst for them. I also make runs which I know sometimes look pointless, but I’m creating space for the players coming up behind me.”
Despite calls for substitute Deniz Undav to start ahead of him, Havertz remains Nagelsmann’s first-choice centre-forward. He acknowledged the criticism he often faces: “Probably because I don’t play in the Bundesliga. It is often said about me: ‘Havertz didn’t score again, he’s useless!’. And when I do score, they say: ‘Well, he’s supposed to, it’s about time!’ I don’t hold it against anyone; that’s perfectly normal.”
Overcoming Injuries and Criticism
Havertz revealed that the last 18 months have been difficult due to injuries, including knee surgery and a hamstring problem in 2024-25. “The last year and a half has gone badly for me,” he said. Yet he remains focused on the World Cup campaign. He also addressed perceptions of his body language: “I’m aware of the debates that I’m too laid back or my body language is wrong. That always comes up when I’m not playing well. But I’m not the sort of person who dwells on it too much.”
He admitted to feeling nerves before big games: “I know it doesn’t show from the outside, but I feel it. Before a Champions League final, or at a World Cup. Or before penalties. I need that tension to stay focused.”
Looking Ahead
Germany face a potential last-16 showdown with France, but Havertz is confident. “The atmosphere is amazing. I was really excited before the Euros in Germany, too. A World Cup is even bigger. There’s incredible energy in the stadiums.” He recalled a life lesson from his youth at Bayer Leverkusen, when a staff member convinced him not to drop out of school: “At 17, you don’t think you need school any more. It was a life lesson for me: seeing things through to the end instead of just quitting.”
