News Focus
- Bayern Munich centre-back Jonathan Tah rejected an Ivory Coast call-up when he was 17 years old
- The defender has earned 46 senior caps for Germany after playing 41 times for the youth teams
- Germany will face Ivory Coast in Group E at the World Cup, alongside Ecuador and Curaçao
- Tah credits his father’s immigrant journey for giving him perspective during difficult periods in his career
- The 28-year-old describes the upcoming match as a “circle closing” in his international career
Jonathan Tah has won 46 caps for Germany’s senior side. He also made 41 appearances for the nation’s youth teams. The Bayern Munich centre-back could have represented a different country, however.
The defender was born to a German mother and an Ivorian father. This made him eligible to play for Ivory Coast. The Ivorian Football Federation asked him to switch allegiance when he was just 17.
Tah declined the offer. He grew up in Germany and came through their youth system. “It was never an option for me to play for Ivory Coast,” he told the German Football Association’s website. “But the connection is there – and it is something special for me.”
Ivory Coast remains a big part of his daily life. His father shared stories about his journey to Germany. These roots help Tah keep perspective. When football becomes difficult, he remembers his father’s struggles. “It feels like nothing compared to his,” he explained.
The upcoming World Cup will create a unique occasion. Germany will play Ivory Coast in Group E. “Somehow it feels like a circle is closing for me,” Tah said. The two teams were supposed to meet in a friendly before the tournament. Now they will clash on the biggest stage. “That is even more incredible,” he added.