Undav has 3 goals and 2 assists off bench and still can't gain spot in Germany's starting lineup

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Deniz Undav has three goals and two assists in 69 minutes at the World Cup, averaging a goal contribution every 13.8 minutes for a rate topping Lionel Messi (37.4), Kylian Mbappé (48.8) and Erling Haaland (51.2).And the 29-year-old striker still hasn’t earned a place in Germany’s starting lineup.“If I weren’t happy, if I wasn’t content, I wouldn’t be here,” he said during a news conference Wednesday ahead of Germany’s group stage finale against Ecuador. “I accept the role”Germany is bouncing back from consecutive group stage eliminations after winning its fourth title in 2014. Die Mannschaft has clinched Group E and will start the knockout phase against a third-place team, possibly Paraguay or Australia, on Monday at Foxborough, Massachusetts. While Germany is seeking its 12th straight victory, which would tie the team record set in 1979-80, Ecuador has one point and likely needs a victory to have a chance reach the knockout rounds.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said he planned only forced lineup changes. Defender Nico Schlotterbeck will miss the rest of the tournament after tearing a left ankle ligament against Ivory Coast on Saturday, and left back Nathaniel Brown is out because of an adductor problem. Antonio Rüdiger and David Raum are likely to take their places.“We want to prepare ourselves for the knockout phase,” Nagelsmann said. “We all say that Deniz really would deserve to be in the starting lineup but we have an idea and we talked about it with Deniz and other players and tomorrow we will do the rotations that are necessary.”