1. FC Cologne
“Absolutely consistent”: Kwasniok defends El Mala nomination
November 7, 2025 – 1:49 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Was Said El Mala from 1. FC Köln rightly nominated for the German national team? Lukas Kwasniok finds the decision “absolutely consistent”.
Said El Mala has exciting days ahead. The 19-year-old will first appear for 1. FC Köln in a derby against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The striker then travels to the German national team and is looking forward to his debut under national coach Julian Nagelsmann.
On Friday, FC coach Lukas Kwasniok explained the decision for El Mala as follows: “I think it’s good and courageous. Of course there’s philosophizing about whether it’s too early. But yes, mei: the boy has delivered and Julian is up for a specialist,” said Kwasniok at the press conference before the derby with the rivals from the Lower Rhine.
Kwasniok called Nagelsmann’s decision “absolutely consistent” and explained: “We want to play courageous football. We don’t have that many dribblers.” The logical consequence was that Nagelsmann then said that he wanted to see the most successful dribbler in Europe. According to statistics specialist Opta, 19-year-old El Mala created more good chances to score from direct duels than any other player in Europe’s top leagues this season. “I keep my fingers crossed for Julian and Said that it will be rewarded and crowned with success,” said Kwasniok.
El Mala himself received the news positively, but without taking off. “He’s not showing any signs of changing his approach,” Kwasniok said. “He’s still the same Said who says: ‘Give me the ball and I’ll start dribbling.’ As long as he maintains that, he will make further steps.”
First the derby, then the international matches against Luxembourg and Slovakia: at Geißbockheim, the German national team’s international matches will be viewed with different eyes for the first time in six years. El Mala is FC’s first German international since Jonas Hector. “We are happy for him and with him. Everyone in Cologne is happy for him,” said Kwasniok. “It’s a great story for the club and especially for Said. He’s a really fine boy.” A boy with a dream: the 2026 World Cup.