In a thrilling start to their international calendar, the German national football team secured a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Switzerland. While Florian Wirtz stole the spotlight with a spectacular brace, the match also marked the highly anticipated return of Kai Havertz to the DFB squad after an agonizing absence of nearly 500 days.
Despite not finding the back of the net himself, the 26-year-old Arsenal forward was one of the standout performers for Julian Nagelsmann's side. Germany's goals came courtesy of Jonathan Tah (26'), Serge Gnabry (45'+2'), and a brilliant double from Wirtz (61', 86'). Switzerland kept the pressure on throughout the match, with strikes from Dan Ndoye (17'), former Bundesliga forward Breel Embolo (41'), and Joel Monteiro (79').
For Havertz, stepping onto the pitch was a victory in itself. His last appearance for Germany was a 1-1 draw against Hungary in November 2024. Since then, he has battled a grueling series of setbacks, including a thigh issue, a severe knee injury that cost him over half the Premier League season, and subsequent muscle problems.
"It was an up-and-down journey for me personally," Havertz admitted. "You definitely notice when you've been out for a year." Fortunately, the forward has been playing regularly for Arsenal since March, recently featuring in the Champions League round of 16 against his former club, Bayer Leverkusen.
With 56 caps and 20 international goals to his name, Havertz brings invaluable experience to a squad gearing up for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. While he acknowledges he isn't the most vocal presence in the locker room, he intends to lead through his performances.
"I think everyone knows I'm not a loud player who gives big speeches," he noted. "But there are also players who lead from the front with their performance—and I count myself among them." His composure in high-stress situations is exactly what coach Nagelsmann values as the team builds momentum.
Havertz attributes much of his composed demeanor on the pitch to his somewhat unusual favorite animal: the donkey. "Donkeys are very, very calm animals—a bit like me," he shared from the DFB training camp. His passion for the animals began in his youth, and his parents even gifted him three donkeys for his 18th birthday. Though they reside in Germany while he lives in England with his three dogs, the connection remains strong.
As the World Cup approaches, Havertz is ready to shoulder the expectations of a football-loving nation. "Of course, the pressure is always there, but we don't want to put too much pressure on ourselves," he concluded. "We want to prove to the country that we are ready for the next step. I am very confident that the World Cup will be successful for us."
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