Arsenal forward Kai Havertz will be among the players getting Euro 2024 underway tonight as Germany take on Scotland.
The Gunners star enjoyed a fine second half to the season and ended up being one of the most important players for Mikel Arteta.
That form has also seen Havertz move into prime contention with Germany and he’s expected to get the nod up front tonight against the Scots.
Of course, Havertz’s Arsenal career didn’t get off to the best start and that, in turn, was impacting things at international level as well.
And speaking to Arsenal’s official website, German journalist Yvonne Gabriel has revealed how a conversation with Julian Nagelsmann helped Havertz’s cause.
What Julian Nagelsmann said to Kai Havertz in March
Speaking about Havertz and his position in the Germany set-up, Gabriel shared details of a chat with Nagelsmann a few months ago.
“He had some problems performing against Ukraine in the second last match, but he scored in the last one against Greece. The striker position was the last one with a big question mark around it,” Gabriel said.
“Havertz and Fullkrug are the two strikers fighting for that position.
“For now, Havertz is in the starting 11 and Fullkrug is a completely different striker, a more real number nine who is more physical and has good qualities with headers, while Kai seems to be full of self-consciousness so he’s very ambitious and of course the situation at Arsenal helped him a lot.
“He had a conversation with the coach Nagelsmann in March and he told him ‘if you perform well at Arsenal you have good chances to perform at the Euros and be in the starting 11’.
“Havertz mentioned that pushed him at Arsenal and now he’s ready for the tournament and he has big hopes to perform on a really high level.”
Havertz can drive Germany to Euros glory
There are a few players at the Euros who will really fancy themselves to have big tournaments and Kai Havertz is among that group.
Despite not winning the title, Havertz still had a brilliant season and managed the change the opinion of many a fan and pundit as the season progressed along.
Going into the Euros, Havertz will want to show he can do it on the international stage as well and there’s no reason he can’t do it, based off last season’s form.
Havertz, then, will be hoping for a fast start against the defensive minded Scots tonight.