German media have delivered a very clear and overwhelmingly positive verdict on Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade after his standout performance for Germany in their 6-0 win over Slovakia.
The young forward has enjoyed an excellent international break, turning early doubts about his form into growing confidence and excitement among supporters and journalists in Germany.
Woltemade had been questioned after Newcastle’s recent defeat to Brentford, where some wondered whether his style could fit smoothly into Eddie Howe’s system.
His physical presence is undeniable, but a few analysts felt something was missing in his link-up play at club level. Instead of shying away from the criticism, Woltemade has responded in the best possible way by shining in international colours with Germany’s senior team.
His form began to shift on Friday when he scored twice against Luxembourg. Those goals lifted him and gave him the spark he had been searching for. On Monday night, he carried that confidence into Germany’s clash with Slovakia, where he once again made headlines.
Starting the match, Woltemade opened the scoring with a strong close-range header in the 18th minute. From that moment, the floodgates opened and Germany dominated the rest of the game, eventually securing a comfortable 6-0 victory.
Woltemade’s goal meant he had scored three times in two games during this break, and four consecutive international goals overall.
The German media were quick to praise not just his goal but his entire performance. Frankfurter Rundschau described him as a forward who offered far more than just finishing, highlighting how he dropped deeper to help in the build-up play and create space for his teammates.
They noted his composure, intelligence, and ability to keep up technically with the rest of the team, calling it a “strong performance” that showcased his full range of qualities.
Sport.de followed the same tone, pointing out that Woltemade drifted into midfield more often than he did in the Luxembourg game but still kept his sharpness in front of goal.
They emphasised how difficult it was for Slovakia to contain his movement and energy, which continually disrupted their defensive shape.
Ran added glowing remarks, calling him “Germany’s talisman,” noting that his movement and anticipation allowed him to meet Joshua Kimmich’s cross perfectly for the opening goal.
They also praised his work rate, highlighting how he created a big chance for Serge Gnabry and covered large areas of the pitch with selfless running.
Express took a similar view, calling him “prolific” and praising the way he triggered Germany’s early dominance. They stated that he not only scored but helped initiate several attacking sequences with his hold-up play and vision.
Tageblatt summarised the general feeling by calling him a “goal guarantee” and suggesting that with only eight international appearances, he is already becoming indispensable for Germany’s future World Cup plans.
The numbers from his performance show exactly why the praise has been so widespread. His contributions were not limited to scoring; he influenced almost every attacking phase while still maintaining accuracy and discipline on the ball.
Here is his performance in numbers:
| Category | Nick Woltemade v Slovakia |
|---|---|
| Shots | 2 |
| Shots on target | 1 |
| Key passes | 3 |
| Big chances created | 1 |
| Accurate passes | 35/40 |
| Touches | 53 |
| Successful dribbles | 2 |
These statistics highlight a complete centre-forward display. He was involved in build-up play, created danger for others, and still managed to be clinical when chances fell to him.
For Newcastle United, this international break has shown exactly why the club moved early to secure Woltemade. Many believed he would be far more expensive if he had played another full Bundesliga season and then entered a major international tournament with strong momentum.
His development is accelerating quickly, and Germany now view him as their clear first-choice striker. Jonathan Burkardt is still waiting for his first goal, Niclas Fullkrug appears to be drifting out of contention, and the likes of Denis Undav, Maximilian Beier, and Tim Kleindienst cannot match Woltemade’s combination of size, intelligence, and technical skill.
Woltemade’s performances over the last two games show that he is ready for a major role for both club and country. His header against Slovakia was another reminder of his talent, and if he continues to grow at this pace, he could become one of Europe’s most reliable strikers for many years to come.
