Deniz Undav became a national hero after inspiring Germany to a 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast, after Jurgen Klopp faced backlash for suggesting he should start at the World Cup
02:00, 21 Jun 2026
Jurgen Klopp's belief in Deniz Undav now appears to be genius after backlash in the German media
Jurgen Klopp's belief in Deniz Undav now appears to be genius after backlash in the German media(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has seen his admiration of Deniz Undav justified after receiving heavy backlash from German national team legend Lothar Matthaus during the FIFA World Cup.
It's been a dramatic day of action in the World Cup, with Liverpool star Cody Gakpo starring for the Netherlands in a 5-1 win over Sweden before Germany faced the Ivory Coast. The Ivorians took the lead following a neat move from Liverpool target Yan Diomande, but the Germans came back.
Substitute striker Undav scored a brace to hand Germany a comeback 2-1 victory, and the Stuttgart star has been at the center of a high-profile national team debate. Klopp suggested that Undav should start over Jamal Musiala, which annoyed German World Cup winner Matthaus.
Undav has enjoyed a stunning World Cup so far, scoring three goals and providing two assists in the victories over Curacao and the Ivory Coast. In the opening 7-1 win over Curacao, Musiala also scored, but that's been his only attacking return thus far.
Klopp has been working alongside fellow German legend Thomas Muller as an analyst for Magenta TV during the World Cup, and suggested that Undav should have started over Musiala against Curacao. Klopp later insisted it wasn't based on ability, but Musiala's lack of game time due to injury.
Matthaus won the 1990 World Cup with Germany, and also won the Ballon d'Or that year, and was upset by Klopp's opinion. "[Klopp] should know better," he said. "To play a successful World Cup, Germany needs the quality of a Musiala.
Undaz scored a 94th-minute winner to complete his brace and earn Germany a comeback 2-1 win
Undaz scored a 94th-minute winner to complete his brace and earn Germany a comeback 2-1 win(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
"His comments don't exactly make Nagelsmann's job any easier. I'd like to see what Klopp would have said if an expert had advised him to bench one of his regular starters before an important Champions League match. Such interference isn't well received, especially among fellow coaches."
Musiala is still only 23 and has gained valuable experience since breaking into the Bayern Munich team as a 17-year-old. Undav's career has been vastly different, earning a Premier League move to Brighton and Hove Albion aged 25, and is now starring for Stuttgart in the Bundesliga.
Undav's impact was essential off the bench for Germany as the national team struggled to break down the Ivory Coast. While Klopp had the last laugh, he addressed Matthaus's comments and claimed that his opinion on Undav-Musiala was taken out of context.
"It has been brought to our attention that it was discussed a bit," Klopp said. "I have been dealing with people in a leadership position for 25 years in my life. And it is important what you say, but much more important is what the person you are saying it to understands.
Jamal Musiala (middle) started ahead of Undav as Germany secured back-to-back wins
Jamal Musiala (middle) started ahead of Undav as Germany secured back-to-back wins(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Klopp also insisted that there was no negativity attached to his statement. "And obviously, there were a few misunderstandings - we just have to clear that up. We were asked to make a line-up. We just wanted to show that there are other possibilities, which there must be."
The former Liverpool boss also alluded to Musiala's lack of game time, as he suffered a fractured fibula and a dislocated, broken ankle at the FIFA Club World Cup last summer. Musiala returned 196 days later, reaggravated his injury, and then returned once again in April.
"That was zero point zero meant as criticism. Who should we criticize? They haven't played yet," Klopp added. "Neither the coach nor the team. And certainly not Musiala, whom everyone loves, ourselves included.
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"We want the boy to get the feeling for himself again very quickly, that he trusts himself. And of course, that is not the case at the moment. He has had too few games for that."