Die Zeit1 hour agoSports1 min readGermany

National coach Di Salvo defends U21 newcomer Brunner despite the goal celebration gesture and suspension

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National coach Antonio Di Salvo says the controversial goal celebration gesture and the resulting suspension of Paris Brunner will not affect his assessment for the U21 European Championship qualification.
Brunner, a newcomer to the DFB and a player from AS Monaco, made a throat-like gesture after a goal and was banned for two games.
Di Salvo emphasizes Brunner's positive attitude and footballing quality ahead of the crucial qualifying games against Latvia, Malta and Georgia.

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Why It Matters

Paris Brunner is a former U17 World and European champion who recently moved to AS Monaco and is now being considered as a newcomer to the DFB's U21 national team. He received a ban for a controversial goal celebration gesture towards Racing Strasbourg fans.

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The provocative gesture when celebrating a goal and the subsequent ban for U21 newcomer Paris Brunner play no role in national coach Antonio Di Salvo's assessment of the European Championship qualification. «It's important for me to get to know him as he presents himself. “It’s been great so far and I assume that he will continue to be great,” said Di Salvo before the start of the crucial three games in the fight for the European Championship ticket. It starts on Saturday (6 p.m./Sat.1) in Riga against Latvia.

Lockdown in France

The former U17 World and European Champion was suspended for four games. However, Brunner received two of the four games on probation. The attacker from AS Monaco had indicated a cut through his throat in the 1-1 draw at Racing Strasbourg a week and a half ago after his remarkable equalizer in the direction of the Strasbourg fans, as could be seen on TV images. The gesture was not punished on the pitch.

“Of course I’m not super happy about this gesture he made. He then explained to me that it wasn't related to any fans, but simply because he wanted to close the game," Di Salvo reported of a conversation with Brunner. “It was a mistake he made somewhere, but that was a few days ago now.”

"He's a great footballer"

The former Dortmund player is one of seven newcomers in the U21 squad. “We've met a few times in the past, sometimes 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 jokes, he’s a great footballer,” said captain Tom Bischof. “He’s showing that here too, what I’ve seen in training so far. He plays outstandingly in his club.”

The selection of the German Football Association is the leader in Group F and has qualification for the European Championship from June 16 to July 3, 2027 in Albania and Serbia in its own hands. With victories in Latvia, on Wednesday in Malta and on October 6th in Bielefeld against Georgia, you will certainly qualify as group winners.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

The German U21 will win all three upcoming qualifying games against Latvia, Malta and Georgia and thus qualify for the 2027 European Championship as group winners.
Likely · Within months

Open Questions

How will Brunner perform in the upcoming qualifiers?
Will the suspension affect his further development at the DFB?
What about the form of other newcomers to the squad?