İlkay Gündoğan, Kai Havertz come up big for Germany in win over Iceland

Former Bayern Munich transfer target Kai Havertz has not exactly had a banner campaign in his first year at Chelsea. Much maligned by some fans and media, Havertz has not been given the chance to have a soft landing in London.

None of that, however, prevented Germany manager Joachim Löw, from giving the 21-year-old a start on the frontline in Die Mannschaft’s FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Iceland.

And Havertz made Löw look like a very smart man.

Joshua Kimmich sent a beautiful pass down the left side where Leroy Sane hauled it in and quickly found Havertz, who let loose with a precise left-footed shot that found the back of the net.

Photo by Tobias Schwarz - Pool/Getty Images

It was only the 7th minute of the game, but Havertz put Germany up 2-0 and the squad never looked back.

“It was a tough game, our goal was always to get in behind the chain,” Havertz said (as captured by the DFB). It was clear from the start that the Icelanders would get in behind from the start. We did relatively well.”

On the other end of the Premier League spectrum is Manchester City’s İlkay Gündoğan. The 30-year-old is widely considered to be in the best form of his life and was able to show that against Iceland.

“It was important to start the game well. We passed the ball well,” said Gündoğan (as captured by the DFB). “When I scored, I had a lot of space and thought I’d give it a try. I saw the opportunity and just went for it.”