Füllkrug’s double sparks heated exchange with DFB teammate Amiri
Werder Bremen’s 3‑2 victory over Mainz 05 on Saturday afternoon was marked not only by Niclas Füllkrug’s two‑goal haul but also by a volatile post‑match clash with Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri. The striker, who entered as a substitute in the 81st minute, celebrated before the tension erupted.
Double strike fuels Bremen win
Füllkrug delivered a Doppelpack, converting penalties in the seventh and twenty‑fifth minutes to give Bremen the lead. Those strikes marked his seventh and eighth Bundesliga goals of the campaign. The striker, 33, had arrived on loan from West Ham United earlier in August.
He was withdrawn in the 81st minute, a decision he later described as delayed. Füllkrug explained, “Weil die Auswechslung ein bisschen gedauert hat,” adding that he had signalled his need to leave a few minutes earlier, fearing the team missed two or three moments while the ball was out. He laughed afterwards, admitting the anger was unfounded because the earlier change had not been possible.
Post‑match flare with Amiri
Nach dem Abpfiff, Füllkrug trotted onto the pitch to celebrate with his teammates, his face initially beaming. Suddenly his smile gave way to a böser Blick as a heated word‑fight erupted with Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri. The two German Nationalspieler stood head‑to‑head until Werder midfielder Youri Regeer stepped in to separate them.
Füllkrug later told, “Amiri was not quite as respectful to my teammate,” adding, “I then told him to keep the ball low.”
Amiri, who was selected by the new DFB coach Jürgen Klopp for the September 2025 qualifiers, replied on Sky, “All good. I know Füllkrug from the DFB. A few insults were exchanged, but it’s just football, no stress.”
Both players were named in the DFB squad for the September 2025 World Cup qualifiers, but Füllkrug has not been recalled since and missed the summer World Cup, whereas Amiri featured in two substitute appearances. The two had einmal faced each other in the national team set‑up.
The incident highlights how on‑field success can be shadowed by tempers, and how Füllkrug’s desire to return to the national side fuels his intensity. It also serves as a reminder that emotions run high even after a hard‑won victory.