Zürcher Nachrichten - Germany's Woltemade hopes for 2026 World Cup spot after scoring again

"We're relieved. It's a great moment," Woltemade said. "I'm playing, I'm scoring goals and I'm hopefully playing at the World Cup."

The Newcastle striker opened the scoring on Monday, with Leroy Sane bagging a brace and Serge Gnabry, Ridle Baku and Assan Ouedraogo all getting on the scoresheet.

Woltemade, 23, has four goals in his past three Germany games, including the winners against Northern Ireland and Luxembourg.

Sitting on the bench at Werder Bremen 18 months ago, Woltemade made his international debut in June. With Germany missing several attackers including Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Tim Kleindienst and Niclas Fuellkrug, Woltemade has made himself indispensible to coach Julian Nagelsmann.

"I find it hard to explain, it's always great to be able to play for Germany," he told ZDF.

"I went through all the youth teams, and now I'm with the senior team."

The performance was the latest in the rapid rise for the 1.98-metre tall striker, who moved from Stuttgart to Premier League side Newcastle in summer for a reported fee of 75 million euros ($86 million).

"For many of us, it'll be our first World Cup," Nagelsmann told reporters. "For me, it's the first. It's a very meaningful tournament in football and I'm looking forward to it."

Germany captain Joshua Kimmich, a veteran of two World Cups, told ZDF: "Everyone wanted to send a message today, everyone knew what was at stake: qualification for the World Cup!

"I told the guys that a World Cup is the greatest achievement for a player in a career."

W.F.Portman--NZN