Stuttgart's Sosa receives German citizenship in time for the Euros
It's undeniably been a prolific season for VfB Stuttgart winger Borna Sosa. The one-time left back has reliably set up goals with his impressive crossing skills.
On Friday, Sky Germany and Sport Bild broke the story that the Croatian has been given German citizenship on the initiative of Joachim Löw and the DFB scouting team.
On Friday, Sky Germany and Sport Bild broke the story that the Croatian has been given German citizenship on the initiative of Joachim Löw and the DFB scouting team.
| Borna Sosa. | Photo: Jeollo, Vfb-exklusiv.de, CC BY-SA 3.0 |
Bundesliga fans aren't the only ones taking close notice. News broke on Friday that the former Dinamo Zagreb prospect attained German citizenship after active efforts on the behalf of the DFB. Thus far, Sosa has appeared exclusively for the county of his birth. He's compiled over fifty caps for Vatrenti youth sides.
Sosa has always been eligible to play for Germany through his mother, a Croatian emigre from Berlin. Contacted by Germany's Bild-Zeitung for comment, DFB director Oliver Bierhoff essentially confirmed that this came as a result of recruitment efforts.
"We know the lad and are watching him," Bierhoff noted, "We believe that Borna Sosa has the potential to become a German national team player. Of course, our assessments run beyond the Euros."
The Croatian FA issued its own statement later on in the day, commending Sosa for all his service at the Vatrenti youth level. Head-coach Zlatko Dalic nevertheless noted that "players are free to choose which country they want to play for."
Most German football lovers would find themselves in agreement that the Nationalmannschaft finds itself in desperate need of some additional assistance at left back. When healthy, Leipzig fullbacks Lukas Klostermann and Marcel Sabitzer can bracket the back-four well enough.
Their joint performances still leave something to be desired even when they are both 100 percent. Moreover, recent call-ups Robin Gosens and Philipp Max haven't necessarily filled the position particular well. Nico Schulz and Thilo Kehrer still struggle with form.
Löw certainly has the space for additional players on the national team roster this summer. UEFA confirmed on Tuesday that all nations will be able to select three additional outfielders for their tournament squads.
