After his international debut, Kevin Behrens was still amazed at the high level of the national soccer team.
“Yes, of course. I’m not used to training and playing at such a level, but I will continue to work on myself and give it my all,” said the 32-year-old center forward from Bundesliga club 1. FC Union Berlin after his short stint for Germany draws 2-2 against Mexico in Philadelphia.
Behrens was substituted on for Jamal Musiala by national coach Julian Nagelsmann a few minutes before the final whistle. He is the second current German national player for the Iron Men after Robin Gosens. He is also the second DFB debutant after Stuttgart’s Chris Führich in head coach Nagelsmann’s short term in office.
Union colleague Gosens had to be substituted due to slight problems with his thigh. Nagelsmann had actually wanted to see the left full-back play the entire game, as he did against the USA (3-1) on Saturday. “He felt something. It was a precautionary measure,” said Nagelsmann. It was initially unclear whether 29-year-old Gosens could play for Union in the Bundesliga against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
Behrens is hoping to be nominated for the national team again. Then he will appear with even greater self-confidence. “If you were to be there again now, then you know the processes, then you know the boys better, then you can play more confidently, with a certain ease. If that’s the case, it will also happen that I’ll be a little more relaxed am,” said Behrens.
The conclusion of the trip for him was that “I definitely have to work on myself even more,” said the attacker, who has scored four goals for Union so far this Bundesliga season.