Will the DFB lose?
German talent could also play for Ireland
12/27/2024 – 9:38 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Germany or Ireland? This question could arise for a young German talent in the future.
Paul Nebel is one of the shooting stars of the current Bundesliga season. At just 22 years old, the Mainz 05 offensive player has already scored five goals and provided two assists in 13 games. He recently drew attention with a brace in the 3-1 win in Frankfurt. The 1.69 meter tall midfielder is currently one of the most exciting young German talents.
Nebel has been through all of the German Football Association’s youth teams since the U15 level and is currently part of coach Antonio Di Salvo’s U21 national team. He has already worn the German jersey in six appearances, but has so far been denied a game for the senior national team. Will it stay that way for long after the last performances?
Because: Paul Nebel could theoretically soon be whirling around Europe in the Irish national jersey. The man from Mainz has Irish roots, says to “Bild”: “My father is German, my mother also has Irish roots. My grandmother is Irish, the grandparents also have a house in Ireland and we still have a lot of relatives there. As a child I go there often, so Ireland is my second home.”
Despite this connection, Nebel still sees his future in Germany for the time being. “I grew up here and have always played for Germany,” he emphasizes. The games in the DFB jersey are a great honor and a privilege for him.
His focus next year will be on the U21 national team and the upcoming European Championships next summer in Slovakia. “At the moment I’m concentrating entirely on the U21s. We want to play a successful tournament there,” he continued.