BERLIN: The German soccer federation (DFB) want compensation when players opt to represent other countries after representing Germany at youth levels.
“It simply makes no sense to me why a player who has been coached primarily at his club for five years but also by the federation as a junior partner should be able to switch national associations for free,” DFB managing director Andreas Rettig told news agency dpa on Tuesday.
German-born Juventus star Kenan Yıldız is a Turkish international, having played for Turkiye’s youth teams. Eintracht Frankfurt forward Can Uzun also turned down Germany in favor of Turkiye.
Former Hertha Berlin forward Ibrahim Maza, now playing for Bayer Leverkusen, plays for Algeria after appearing for Germany at youth levels.
German youth internationals Muhammed Damar and Nicolò Tresoldi are reportedly being courted by Turkiye and Italy, respectively, and the Frankfurter Rundschau daily newspaper reported on Sunday that Nuremberg defender Fabio Gruber has chosen to represent Peru.
“We’re currently checking whether there’s a possibility of coaching compensation when players switch national associations,” Rettig said. “This issue has not yet been addressed extensively. But coaching must be worthwhile for both sides, the player and the coach.”
Germany have long seen players with one or two parents born abroad opt to represent their country of their roots, while the country has also benefited from immigration as players such as İlkay Gündoğan, Mesut Özil, Sami Khedira and Gerald Asamoah have contributed to the national team’s success.
Cologne teenager Said El Mala was last week called up for Germany’s World Cup qualifiers this week and at least 12 players in the latest squad could have chosen to represent other countries. The injured Jamal Musiala chose Germany after playing for England youth teams.
“In Germany 43 percent of children under five years of age hold dual citizenship. When they’re 10 or 12 years older they can decide, do I prefer the (German) eagle or, for example, the (Turkish) crescent moon?” Rettig said.
“We analyzed the squad lists from the under-15s to the under-21s within the federation. The percentage there is significantly higher than the aforementioned 43 percent. There are age groups in which seven or eight players in the starting 11 have dual nationality.”
FIFA would need to approve and enforce any system of compensation payments. Other countries like France, England, Switzerland and the Netherlands could also expect windfalls from home-grown players’ switches to other teams.
German soccer want compensation for developing players who switch to other nations
https://arab.news/4fecd
German soccer want compensation for developing players who switch to other nations
- “We’re currently checking whether there’s a possibility of coaching compensation when players switch national associations,” Rettig said
- Germany have long seen players with one or two parents born abroad opt to represent their country of their roots
Real Sociedad edge rivals Athletic to reach Copa del Rey final
- Real Sociedad have now not lost in their last 10 derby clashes at home against Athletic, whom they beat in the 2020 final, and rarely looked like letting their advantage slip
SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain: Mikel Oyarzabal slotted home a late penalty to fire Real Sociedad into the Copa del Rey final with a 1-0 win over Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, securing a 2-0 aggregate semifinal triumph.
American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo has turned La Real’s fortunes around since arriving in December and his side will face Atletico Madrid in the Seville final on April 18, after they ousted Barcelona.
Already holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg at Athletic’s San Mames, Real Sociedad produced a sturdy display at the Reale Arena to knock out the 24-time winners.
“Very proud of what the boys have done, over the past two months, it’s pretty amazing,” said Matarazzo.
“Our first match was on the fourth of January... and we just reached the cup final.
“The football we’re playing is effective and we want to continue... we’re in the final and we want to win it.”
Real Sociedad have now not lost in their last 10 derby clashes at home against Athletic, whom they beat in the 2020 final, and rarely looked like letting their advantage slip.
“I think having the one goal advantage helped, we managed the tempo well,” Real Sociedad defender Jon Martin told Movistar.
“We didn’t want a lot to happen, and we did well.”
La Real had the better of a tense first half, with Carlos Soler coming closest. The midfielder’s free-kick, flying toward the top corner, was tipped over by Athletic goalkeeper Alex Padilla.
Matarazzo’s team had more of the ball and forced the visitors back, albeit without carving out many more openings.
Athletic defender Aitor Paredes made a last-ditch block to keep former Valencia midfielder Soler at bay, and Goncalo Guedes drilled into the side-netting.
Ernesto Valverde’s side improved in the second half and began to threaten La Real, again without finding a clear sight of goal.
Alejandro Berenguer fizzed a shot wide after Inaki Williams fed him on the edge of the box.
Los Leones were missing dangerous Spanish winger Nico Williams, who is sidelined indefinitely with a groin problem.
Oyarzabal seals it
The match was decided from the penalty spot when Athletic’s Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta grabbed a fistful of Yangel Herrera’s shirt as he tried to jump in the box.
After a VAR review the referee awarded a spot-kick and Spain striker Oyarzabal coolly sent Padilla the wrong way in the 87th minute.
Mikel Vesga might have levelled on the night for Athletic in stoppage time as they pushed forward with urgency but Real Sociedad stopper Unai Marrero saved well with his leg to help book his team’s flight to Andalusia.
“It was a hard-fought game, a Basque derby,” said Valverde.
“We had a clear chance at the end, we could have got back into the game but it wasn’t to be.”
Icelandic striker Orri Oskarsson could have extended La Real’s lead at the death but nodded against the post, although it did not matter in the end.
“It feels terrible, it’s a shame, we wanted to reach that final in Seville, I don’t even know what to say,” Athletic striker Williams told Movistar.
“(For the penalty) there’s that kind of grabbing in every box, every corner, and it’s very difficult (to take).”
