National team choice is individual, emotional decision: Germany footballer Jonathan Tah

WOLFSBURG – Germany central defender Jonathan Tah believes a player’s decision about which national team to represent must come from the heart.

The question of Germany-developed players who opt to represent other countries is back in the spotlight, after Germany youth international Ibrahim Maza recently announced his decision to play for the Algerian national team.

The 19-year-old Bayer Leverkusen forward is the latest footballer to reject Germany despite being developed through their youth and senior system, with German football association bosses repeatedly calling for financial compensation for developing such players.

Other recent cases include Bavarian-born Can Uzun, who chose to play for Turkey’s senior team in 2024. 

Tah, who could have played for the Ivory Coast because of his father, said he had decided early on to stick with Germany, a decision he felt very comfortable with.

“For everyone, it is an individual decision and everyone sees it differently. For me, it is a decision of the heart,” Tah told a press conference ahead of Germany’s last two World Cup qualifiers.

“It did not take long. It happened when I was 17 (and was approached by the Ivory Coast). I quickly said no. I was going through all the German national youth teams and I wanted to play for Germany. It was an individual decision and I see it as a decision of the heart.”

The 29-year-old Tah, who has earned 41 caps, is expected to add two more as Germany travel to Luxembourg on Nov 14 before hosting Slovakia three days later. Germany desperately need two straight wins in these final World Cup qualifiers to secure their spot at the 2026 tournament.

Germany top Group A, level on points with second-placed Slovakia but ahead on goal difference. Northern Ireland sit third with six points, while Luxembourg remain bottom without a point. The group winners earn automatic World Cup qualification, while the second-placed team go into a play-off in March.

Asked whether he had any doubts that Germany would top their group, Tah said: “No, that’s the quick answer.”

Brazil, meanwhile, have already secured their place, despite a poor qualifying campaign that saw them finish fifth out of 10 teams in South American qualifying.

The Selecao have had four coaches in four years, but star attacker Vinicius Jr says they have improved since Carlo Ancelotti took charge in May.

The illustrious Italian’s six matches in charge have featured three wins, a draw and two losses, including in their most recent international, a 3-2 defeat by Japan in Tokyo in October.

With just seven months until the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Vinicius believes progress is being made under his former coach at Real Madrid.

Speaking ahead of a friendly against Senegal in London on Nov 15, he told the Brazilian Football Confederation’s website: “I believe that with the coach we are evolving and we have adopted a clear game plan.

“He is very experienced and has given us confidence... making the most of each player’s characteristics.”

The 25-year-old also urged his team to make full use of the international break, which will also see Brazil face Tunisia in Lille on Nov 18.

He said: “We have only a few matches before the World Cup. Everyone has to get into World Cup mode and focus on the opportunities that are coming.

“The time to make mistakes is now, not at the World Cup.” 

Ancelotti, who helped develop Vinicius into a world-class winger in Madrid, believes he can be a goal threat for Brazil, despite his record of just eight goals in 43 international appearances.

The 66-year-old told Brazilian sports magazine Placar: “(I see him) as a winger or as a central striker. Vinicius has the quality to score many goals.

“I’ve told him: ‘Look, when you’re playing as a winger, to score goals you have to do three or four dribbles. Touch the ball seven or eight times. And in the centre, just one well-timed movement is enough to score a goal.’

“He understood it. He likes playing in that position. We can take advantage of a player who can help a lot as a winger, not as a forward in the area as I’m not stupid because he is not a reference point inside the box.

“But to attack the area with space, he is very, very, dangerous.” REUTERS