In football, the first goal can completely change the course of the day’s events. The fact that Marvin Ducksch has already opened the scoring on five occasions this season therefore highlights his importance to SV Werder Bremen. “At the end of the day, the result is what matters – I’m happy not to score as long as we win the game,” says Ducksch, whose team remain unbeaten when he has opened the scoring. “If I can help the team to success by scoring early on, I’ll try to do that.”
Only three Bundesliga players – Harry Kane, Denis Undav and Lois Openda – have the same penchant for scoring the opening goal as Ducksch. Although Werder’s number 7 is one of the top flight’s top scorers, he is often among the first players to be criticised for a run without a goal. “The way I play the game, I can sometimes I appear a bit anonymous because I don’t need too many moments to create danger,” explains Ducksch, who has already registered nine goals and six assists this season. “If I can help the team by doing that, I’ll carry on doing it – I don’t let criticism affect me.”
If the team is successful, then I am too.Marvin Ducksch
At the same time, the 29-year-old's performances have also earned him plenty of recognition outside of Bremen. In November, the striker received his first call-up from the Germany national team. Now he’s dreaming of getting the golden ticket to play in the European Championships in his home country. However, he isn't letting himself be drawn into any sort of duel for a place in the squad, with his likely competitors including the likes of VfB’s Undav or former strike partner Niclas Füllkrug. “Obviously you have those thoughts in the back of your mind because you’re chasing your own goals,” says Ducksch, who has two caps for his nation. “But I’m trying to draw attention to myself through my performances with Werder. My job is to help the team here. If we’re successful as a team, then I’m automatically successful as an individual player too.”
And, having won their last three games, Werder appear to have come into a rich vein of form. In the first three games of the second half of the season, the side have picked up six more points than they gained from their reverse fixtures against those opponents. After the 4-2 defeat against 1. FC Heidenheim earlier in the season, the Green-Whites will want to settle a score on that front too.
“They’re a team you can never be complacent against because they have an enormous amount of team spirit,” says Ducksch. “If we play our game and maintain our current rhythm then we have a good chance to get a result.” A special set of circumstances await Ducksch and his teammates this weekend – Werder will play in a special kit and be greeted by a huge tifo as they enter the pitch, with the club's 125th anniversary celebrations set to conclude in with a party on Saturday evening.
For us, the three points are the main priority,” says the Dortmund native. “Obviously the circumstances surrounding the game will play their part – it’s become clear to us that there will be a lot going on around us on game day. We’re looking forward to that, obviously, and we hope we can celebrate a home win with the fans.” An opening goal from Marvin Ducksch would be a solid foundation towards achieving just that.
