dpa
Dortmund, Germany
Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Tim Kleindienst has emerged from Germany’s Nations League quarter-final victory over Italy as a big winner in the race to see who might lead the line at the 2026 World Cup.
The Germans have to reach the tournament first, with their qualification starting in September, but they can further boost their confidence ahead of time by hosting and potentially winning the Nations League Final Four in June.
Kleindienst seems certain to be at those finals, with Germany hosting Portugal in Munich in their semi-final on June 4 before Spain meet France in Stuttgart the next day.
The 29-year-old scored in both legs of the quarter-final against Italy, the 2-1 victory in Milan and Sunday’s frantic 3-3 draw in Dortmund.
He replaced the ineffective Jonathan Burkardt up top in the San Siro at half-time and scored within four minutes with a typical centre forward’s header. He repeated the trick while starting in Dortmund.
A special compliment came from former world-class striker and World Cup winner Rudi Völler.
“I congratulated Tim again,” the German Football Federation (DFB) sporting director told reporters.
