Bundesliga club Union Berlin provides a new German international. Against Mexico, striker Kevin Behrens celebrated his debut.
The time had come in the 87th minute: Kevin Behrens was a late substitute in the German national team’s test match against Mexico in Philadelphia and was allowed to take his first steps as a DFB selection player in the closing stages. At 32 years and eight months, he is now the ninth-oldest debutant in national team history, having watched the match against the USA from the bench.
“It was really exciting, really cool to get into such a wild game in that atmosphere. Just cool to have played my first game. I thought the atmosphere was really nice. It was fun to play here,” Behrens emphasized during the subsequent interview in the catacombs.
The former Rot-Weiss Essen striker was impressed by the quality of the German squad: “I definitely still have to work on myself. The guys are really strong. I’m not used to training and playing at this level, but I’ll keep working on myself and give it everything I’ve got. The trip made me want to do more.”
The fact that Behrens, who never played above the regional league until 2018, now made his international debut under new national coach Julian Nagelsmann was a sensation. He only played his first ever Bundesliga game at the age of 30 for Union Berlin.
On the second slide you can see a talent of the century – and Jamal Musiala.
Union Berlin on social media.
How proud the Champions League contender is of its striker became clear in a post on Instagram. “Behre is a national player! Against Mexico he was substituted just before the end. We are so incredibly proud of you, Kevin,” the post read.
The “Ironmen” also showed humor when they commented on the picture where Behrens was substituted for Jamal Musiala with the following words: “On the second slide you see a talent of the century – and Jamal Musiala.”
Still at Rot-Weiss Essen in 2015, Behrens was kicked out of the squad due to disciplinary problems, but in 2023 he can call himself a German national player, who can have justified hopes for next year’s home European Championship. With four goals in the Bundesliga this season, he is currently the top scorer at Union Berlin.
The transfermarkt.de portal has also paid tribute to the development of the brawny center forward. On Wednesday, his market value was doubled from two to four million euros – and that at the age of 32.