After Boateng comments: 10 other players who chose not to play for Germany
Kevin-Prince Boateng isn't the only player who could have played for Germany, but chose to represent another country.
| Joel Matip (left) | Photo: Дмитрий Садовников/Soccer.ru/CC-by-SA 3.0 |
"There was no room for me there (in the German national team), because I always say what I think. Back then, a guy like me wasn't wanted," Boateng said and added:
"I wanted to represent who I am by playing for my country, and that's why I chose to play for Ghana. I'm happy because it enabled me to discover my origins."
Sky Germany has made this list of 10 players who - just like Boateng - could have played for Germany, but chose not to:
Joel Matip (Liverpool), Cameroun
Matip was born in Bochum, but decided to represent Cameroun in 2010 at the age of 18.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Paris Saint-Germain), Cameroun
Born in Hamburg, Choupo-Moting played for Germany at youth level, but opted to represent Cameroun in 2010.
Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal), Bosnia and Herzegovina
The left-back was born in Karlsruhe and played for several German youth national teams before he opted to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2013.
Jermaine Jones (retired), USA
Jones, who was born in Frankfurt, featured in three friendlies for Germany, but in 2010, he was allowed to play for the United States instead as he didn't appear in any official games for Germany.
Martin Harnik (Werder Bremen), Austria
Harnik was born in Hamburg, but already at an early age, he knew that he wanted to represent Austria. He played for several Austrian youth national team before making his debut for the senior side in 2007.
Hakan Calhanoglu (AC Milan), Turkey
Many German-born players have decided to play for Turkey. One of them is Hakan Calhanoglu - born in Mannheim - who represented different Turkish youth national teams before making his senior international debut in 2013.
Nuri Sahin (Werder Bremen), Turkey
Also Werder Bremen's Nuri Sahin, who was born in Lüdenscheid, decided to play for Turkey instead of Germany. In 2005, Sahin became the youngest Turkey senior international and goalscorer in a 2-1 win over Germany. He retired from international football in 2017.
Hamit Altintop and Halil Altintop (both without a club), Turkey
The twin brothers were born in Gelsenkirchen, but both decided to represent Turkey.
Ömer Toprak (Borussia Dortmund), Turkey
Toprak, who was born in Ravensburg, played for the German Under-19 team before deciding to play for Turkey in 2011.
