Club Brugge striker Nicolò Tresoldi delivered a standout performance for Germany's under-21 side on Tuesday. The 22-year-old forward netted a hat-trick in the friendly against Malta, which included a free-kick from around twenty metres.
He captained the side for the first time, taking his tally for the German youth team to sixteen goals. That leaves him just two strikes behind the record held by Pierre Littbarski. "I hope to score them on Tuesday," Tresoldi said afterwards.
International Decision
The treble shows his rising profile, but the major question remains which senior national team he will represent. Tresoldi is eligible for both Germany and Italy. "Everyone knows both countries mean a lot to me," the striker admitted. "I started this adventure with the German youth team and want to finish it. I wear the German shirt with pride."
National team coach Jürgen Klopp has already been in contact with the player and acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. Under Klopp, Germany had scored only once in their first two internationals.
Club Context
For Club Brugge, their top scorer's form is positive news. Tresoldi has already scored three times in seven league appearances this season. The club sits third in the Jupiler Pro League with eighteen points from seven games, just one point behind leaders Union St. Gilloise.
Manager Nicky Hayen's side returns to action after the international break against RAAL La Louvière. The opponent currently sits fourteenth.
Club's recent results, including a 3-0 win over Genk, show a team on the up. The full table and statistics can be followed via our standings and stats pages. Tresoldi's development is a key part of that positive momentum. His final international choice will affect his availability for future call-ups.
The report in full is at HLN Voetbal
