In the 64th minute he was finally able to celebrate. Jamie Leweling hit the ball into the corner of the Dutch goal from eleven meters and celebrated his first goal in a DFB jersey in his debut for the German national team. The VfB Stuttgart striker scored after just 100 seconds in the 1-0 win against the Netherlands in the Nations League, but the referee canceled the goal after minutes of video study. Nevertheless, it was a very special evening for the 23-year-old, who celebrated a perfect debut in the national team.
“I made it 1-0, but we won as a team. I was afraid that the second goal wouldn’t count either, but luckily it counted,” said Leweling. He benefited twice from his teammates’ injuries. The striker was only called up shortly before the game in Bosnia-Herzegovina (2-1) last Friday because Jamal Musiala from FC Bayern Munich had withdrawn due to injury. Leweling wasn’t actually scheduled to be in the starting line-up against the Netherlands either.
But shortly before the game, Deniz Undav, who had scored a brace in Bosnia-Herzegovina, reported to Nagelsmann. “He has a bit of adductor problems, it’s nothing structural. But I also have a bit of responsibility to protect the boys for their clubs,” said national coach Nagelsmann on ZDF about Undav.
“Jamie played an outstanding game”
The national coach chose Leweling in attack. A decision that turned out to be the right one. It wasn’t just because of the goal that the Stuttgart player was one of the best in the German jersey. Leweling was on fire, was always available on offense and often looked for a way to the goal. When Nagelsmann replaced Leweling in the 86th minute, there was a standing ovation for the goalscorer in the Munich Arena. Leweling was the first debutant under Julian Nagelsmann to score on his debut.
“Jamie played an outstanding game, and not just because of the goal. It’s not often that the arena stands up when a debutant is substituted,” said captain Joshua Kimmich. Nagelsmann also praised the debutant: “I know that he has a lot of energy. But I didn’t expect him to play so well. He played a very good game.”
