Deniz Undav has joined an exclusive club. The German striker is the first player from his country to score in his first two World Cup matches since Miroslav Klose turned the trick back in 2002. Undav found the net in both of his tournament appearances so far, putting him in rare company.
A rare opening act
Scoring on your World Cup debut is tough. Doing it again in your second match is tougher. Undav managed both, something no German had done since Klose announced himself on the global stage more than two decades ago. The feat underscores the 28-year-old's rapid rise. A late bloomer in many ways, Undav wasn't even a sure bet to make the squad. Now he's the focal point of Germany's attack.
Klose's legacy
Miroslav Klose went on to become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals. He scored in his first two matches in 2002, then kept adding to his tally across four tournaments. Undav has a long way to go before anyone mentions him in the same breath as Klose. But the start is identical. For German fans, that parallel offers hope. Klose's goals helped Germany reach the final in 2002 and win the title in 2014. Undav's early strikes give this team a similar jolt of confidence.
Undav will get a chance to extend his streak in Germany's next group match. A third consecutive goal would put him in even more elite territory. For now, the striker can savor a milestone that connects him — however loosely — to a national hero. The rest of the tournament will show whether this is just a hot start or the beginning of something bigger.
