Jonathan Tah, a key defender for the German national team (DFB), is filled with anticipation for the upcoming World Cup, particularly for a unique encounter against Ivory Coast, the country of his father’s origin. As he approaches his first World Cup as a starter at the age of 30, the Bayern Munich player is eagerly awaiting the tournament’s commencement in a couple of weeks.
Tah, born in Hamburg to a German mother and an Ivorian father, shared his profound connection to Ivory Coast, Germany’s second group opponent on June 20th in Toronto. «I have roots there and feel a connection to the country,» Tah stated.
He added, «I’m just looking forward to it. Of course, when I’m on the field, they are my opponents, and then I want to win. But it will be special to play against them. Also because there are a few players there that I know from there.»
Remarkably, Ivory Coast had approached Tah before the 2014 World Cup. «It was before the 2014 World Cup,» he recalled from the DFB team’s training camp in Herzogenaurach. «I wasn’t with Germany yet either. I was 17 or 18 years old when they approached me. But I declined relatively quickly – and two or three years later, I was here.»
Jonathan Tah made his debut for the German national team in March 2016 under Joachim Löw at the age of 20. He was part of the squad for the European Championship in France three months later. Although he missed out on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, the 45-time international is now particularly excited about the tournament in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, especially due to this one «special» match.
Jonathan Tah’s DFB Team Statistics
| Statistic | Details |
|---|---|
| International Debut | March 26, 2016 (2-3 friendly loss against England) |
| International Appearances | 45 |
| International Goals | 1 |
| Major Tournaments | Euro 2016 (no appearances), Euro 2024 (4 appearances) |