Arsenal forward Kai Havertz once again led the line for Germany as they laboured to a draw against Switzerland on Sunday evening.
Germany were held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland in their final group stage game of Euro 2024.
Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was the standout player for Switzerland as they produced a dogged and determined performance against the tournament hosts.
Dan Ndoye put the Swiss ahead with 28 minutes on the clock in Frankfurt. Switzerland were then able to hold on until the 92nd minute, when substitute striker Niclas Fullkrug was able to guide a header into the back of the net, and secure Germany’s place as group winners.
Germany might have equalised much earlier, though, and have perhaps even gone on to win the game, had they been more clinical with chances they created throughout the match. A couple of these opportunities fell the way of Kai Havertz, but he was unable to convert.
The 25-year-old worked hard, showed intelligent movement, and offered a focal point for his teammates to aim for and work around. However, on this occasion, his finishing touch was lacking.
Havertz is now Mikel Arteta’s first choice striker at the Emirates Stadium. Although Arsenal are now in the market for a new striker, the former Chelsea man has earned that starting berth with his form in the second half of last season.
However, he is not the most prolific of goalscorers. Whilst Gary Lineker believes that Havertz has now developed into a well-rounded centre-forward, he is never going to be an absolute goal machine.
German media take aim at Arsenal star Kai Havertz after Euro 2024 display v Switzerland
As he struggled to find the back of the net against Switzerland, Havertz drew the ire of certain sections of the German press.
Kicker awarded Havertz a rather brutal 3.5 rating, whilst BILD rated him as a 5.
Bulinews gave the Arsenal man another 5/10 rating, and added: “It was a quiet night for the man leading the line. Struggled to cope with the physicality of Akanji and Schär. Almost bagged an 85th-minute goal as the cross met his shoulder, but the crossbar denied him.”
Get Football News Germany were more generous too, scoring his performance as a 6/10 and stating: “After struggling against Hungary, Havertz was Germany’s most active attacker tonight and had several decent chances, but failed to convert them.”
Arsenal winners and losers at Euro 2024
In this week’s episode, Will Jones and Rahul Lakhani discussed the first few days of the European Championships. With Arsenal players such as Kai Havertz and Kieran Tierney experiencing mixed starts to the tournament, the pair assessed which Gunners were the winners and losers from the group stages so far.
There was some talk about transfers based off the Euros, with Arsenal-linked Amadou Onana’s display for Belgium discussed, whilst Leandro Trossard’s poor performance was analysed, and Bukayo Saka’s sensational England showing lauded.