Marvin Ducksch confident Germany will be back on track as he eyes first start

By Sports Desk November 20, 2023

Forward Marvin Ducksch has vowed Germany will get their Euro 2024 build-up back on track against Austria.

The Werder Bremen striker is confident Die Mannschaft can prove their worth in Vienna on Tuesday.

The tournament hosts’ difficult run continued with a 3-2 home defeat to Turkey on Saturday.

It was Julian Nagelsmann’s first loss in charge after he replaced the axed Hansi Flick in September but Ducksch, who made his debut against Turkey in Berlin, believes they will recover at the Ernst Happel Stadion.

He said: “We spoke about the things that didn’t work well against Turkey. We’re going to show a different side to our game against Austria.

“I’m fully convinced that, with the quality that we have, we’ll be able to end the year on a high with a win.”

Ducksch, who started his career at Borussia Dortmund, has scored six goals in 13 games for Bremen this season but had not played for his country since 2012, when he appeared for the under-18s.

He made his international bow after replacing Julian Brandt and could be handed a first start in the friendly on Tuesday.

“It’s a feeling that nobody can take away from me. Coming on was one of the best moments of my life. That being said, it would’ve been even better if we’d have won,” he told DFB.de

“It was definitely a childhood dream and also one that I also had when I started my career. I started to be more realistic at some point and admitted to myself that it was a very, very ambitious dream.

“That being said, I never lost faith and always kept a bit of hope, since I always wanted to play for the national team when I was younger.

“I’ve been heading in the right direction over the past few years and have continued to work on myself and, now, here I am.

“My current head coach, my manager, and the sporting director at Werder also sent me messages, which obviously made me happy. My best friends were even at the stadium and my family were watching the game at home.”

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