Can only make the wrong choice: Germany's next gem has doubts
Can only make the wrong choice: Germany's next gem has doubts Could the next young talent turn his back on the DFB? In Mio Backhaus’ case, it is at least not out of the question. The goalkeeper is eligible to play for both Germany and Japan.
For years, the Japanese federation has therefore been courting the Werder keeper. National coach Hajime Moriyasu visited him in Bremen when he was just 17, Backhaus reported in an interview with '11Freunde'. The coach told him that he could see him joining the senior national team in the foreseeable future.
"At that point, I wasn’t playing any role for the first team (at Werder; editor’s note) at all," says Backhaus. He said it impressed him that the national coach had still made the trip to speak with him. So far, however, he has not made a decision, and he also does not want to make it dependent on the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Since both are wonderful countries, he said, "I feel like I can only make the wrong decision. " For the current international break, the goalkeeper has been called up to the Germany U21 national team. Antonio Di Salvo’s side will face Northern Ireland and Greece in the European Championship qualifiers.
Before the U21s, Backhaus had progressed through Germany’s youth national teams since the U15 level. Because they had taken good care of him, he has a good relationship with the DFB, he explained. "If I were to decide against the DFB and for Japan now, then it would feel like it affects 100 people who have lovingly and wonderfully looked after me over all these years.