Klopp leaves midfielders out, El‑Faouzi picks Morocco

On the training ground of FC Schalke 04, the 24‑year‑old Soufiane El‑Faouzi stands with a suitcase in hand, while his team is still preparing for the next Bundesliga match. Jürgen Klopp's decision not to nominate the shooting star of the Royal Blues for the German national team casts a new light on his international future.

Instead, El‑Faouzi is now traveling to the Moroccan national team. The 24‑year‑old midfielder of FC Schalke 04 has been called up to the squad for the upcoming Africa Cup qualifying matches.

Decision for the International Future

Morocco faces Gabon on September 25 and, four days later, Lesotho – both mandatory matches. Should El‑Faouzi take part in either of these games, a later switch to the DFB will no longer be possible.

El‑Faouzi, born in Siegen, would generally be eligible to play for the German national team. At the end of May he made his debut for Morocco in a 5‑0 victory over Burundi and played one half, but that was a friendly match.

Since the friendly match did not constitute a binding association switch, the option for Germany remained open. However, the upcoming qualifying matches could seal the final decision against the DFB.

Jürgen Klopp called up 44 players for his first international match period as national coach, but left out El‑Faouzi, as well as Schalke teammates Loris Karius and Robin Gosens. The omission dampened hopes for a German nomination.

Since his move to Gelsenkirchen, El‑Faouzi has developed significantly and already impressed at the start of the Bundesliga. An appearance in the upcoming qualifying matches could definitively determine which country the Schalke professional will represent on the international stage in the future.