For Mitchell Weiser, the situation is perfect. The midfielder won with Werder Bremen at VfL Wolfsburg, scored a goal and will soon be a father. The 30-year-old can also hope for his first senior international match. FIFA gives the green light.
Werder Bremen’s Mitchell Weiser is hoping to play his first international football match for Algeria soon. At the end of last week, the world association Fifa confirmed that the change from the German Football Association (DFB) to the Algerian association had been completed. The world association said on request that nothing stands in the way of deployment.
“I didn’t know that nationality worked at FIFA. That has now been changed. Also at the request of the association,” said the 30-year-old after Bremen’s 4-2 win in the Bundesliga at VfL Wolfsburg. “Now I hope that I will be invited.” There is still time until the next nomination by Algeria’s coach, the Swiss Vladimir Petkovic. “And I have to play well too,” said Weiser.
His maternal grandfather is Algerian. Weiser’s mother was in the country at the beginning of October for talks with the association and the decisive breakthrough occurred. Weiser once played twelve games for the German U21 team and won the European Championship title in 2017. He even scored the winning goal in the final against Spain. So far it hasn’t been enough for him to play in the senior national team.
Weiser strongly recommended himself against Wolfsburg
“I always had the option in mind because I have the luxury of theoretically being able to play football for two countries. For me it was always a big goal to play a big tournament. And I think I have better chances with Algeria. I want to take as much as possible with me in my career,” said Weiser a few months ago about a possible change of association.
The midfielder strongly recommended himself against Wolfsburg. He scored the important 1-1 equalizer shortly before the half-time whistle and was instrumental in Bremen turning the game around in the second half. When he scored, he greeted his wife in a special way. The couple is expecting their third daughter at the end of November and beginning of December.
Against Wolfsburg he also met a future teammate in the Algerian national team, Mohammed Amoura. “We talked briefly during the game. He knew about it and congratulated me on the move.”
dpa/pk