German U21 national team coach Antonio Di Salvo has made it clear that Paris Brunner’s recent suspension in France will not influence his selection decisions during the ongoing European Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign.
Di Salvo Shrugs Off Monaco Controversy
The controversy surrounding the forward stems from a league fixture roughly a week and a half ago, when Monaco drew 1–1 away at Racing Straßburg. After scoring a well-executed equalizing goal, Brunner gestured toward the home supporters by making a throat-slashing motion, an action captured clearly by television cameras. Although match officials did not penalize the incident on the pitch, the disciplinary bodies later handed the teenager a four-match suspension, with two of those matches suspended on probation.
Private Talks and Locker Room Support
Di Salvo addressed the issue directly upon welcoming the young attacker into the German camp, noting that he had held a private conversation with the player to clear the air. According to the coach, Brunner explained that the gesture was not directed at the opposition fans but rather expressed his desire to put the match away. While Di Salvo acknowledged the action was a mistake that he was not happy to see, he emphasized that the team’s focus rests entirely on the present.
“For me, it is important to get to know him here as he presents himself to us. That has been top-notch so far, and I assume it will continue to be top-notch,” Di Salvo told reporters regarding his early impressions of the forward in training.
The sentiment is shared within the locker room, where team captain Tom Bischof voiced strong support for his fellow newcomer. Bischof, who balances his club commitments with the national setup, noted that he has known Brunner previously on a personal level and appreciates his relaxed, humorous personality alongside his undeniable talent on the pitch.
“We met a few times before, even privately, because I just think he’s cool. I like him, and here he is just the way he is. He’s very relaxed, he makes his jokes, he’s a super footballer,” Bischof said. “He’s showing that here as well, from what I’ve seen in training so far. He’s playing outstandingly at his club.”
Pedigree and Group F Command
Brunner arrives with a strong pedigree as a former FIFA U17 World Cup and UEFA U17 European Championship winner, credentials that add significant depth to Germany’s attacking options. The team currently sits atop Group F and commands full control over its destiny in the race for a spot at the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which is scheduled to take place from June 16 to July 3 in Albania and Serbia.
The Road to Latvia, Malta, and Georgia
The qualifying road continues with three decisive fixtures designed to secure the tournament ticket. Germany opens this crucial block away against Latvia in Riga on Saturday, with kickoff scheduled for 18:00 local time, broadcast live on Sat.1. Following the fixture in Latvia, the squad travels to face Malta on Wednesday, before returning home to host Georgia in Bielefeld on October 6.
Securing victories across all three encounters will guarantee Germany finishes at the summit of Group F and punches its ticket directly to the finals without relying on secondary scenarios. With the disciplinary episode behind him, Brunner now stands ready to make his official U21 debut on the international stage as the team zeroes in on its ultimate qualifying goals.
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