National team
Can qualities in demand again: “I love duels”
Is back with the DFB team: Emre Can. photo
© Arne Dedert/dpa
Dortmund’s upswing is closely linked to its performance. Emre Can, as a prototype of the football fighter, is also in demand again with the national team. He doesn’t just want to be a local hero.
Emre Can is of course happy to act as a tour guide for his colleagues in his hometown of Frankfurt. But the BVB professional really wants to help the national team with his footballing qualities.
“Everyone knows how I play football. I love duels, I love fighting for my team,” said the defensive midfielder before the international game opener on Saturday (8:45 p.m. / ZDF) against Peru.
For the first time, the 29-year-old could play an international match under national coach Hansi Flick. Most recently, he was on the pitch for the DFB-Elf in the 2021 European Championship in the 0-2 round of 16 against England in Wembley. Can missed out on participating in the World Cup in Qatar, but Flick had signaled to him last fall that a comeback was possible. With his good performances in Dortmund, he has now laid the foundation for this.
Fighting qualities required
Can’s fighting qualities are in demand again. Emotion and commitment are factors towards the home EM 2024. “My role? You will see that in the course of the measure here,” said the Dortmunder and knows exactly what his strength is. “If it’s important to the coach then I think I’m the right player for the case. I also want to prove myself. I come here to play football. I always want to win international caps, that’s always my goal.” said Can, who has played 37 times for Germany so far.
Being back in Frankfurt is of course nice. This time, the DFB has chosen a team hotel in its district. “I live here very close to the hotel, a few hundred meters as the crow flies,” he said. However, excursions with colleagues are unlikely. “I don’t know if we’ll have a chance to go out here. If we do and the boys need a few good corners, then I’ll be there and I’ll do my best to show the boys the corners,” he promised.