Derry Scherhant strengthened his case for further Germany involvement with an energetic display in Thursday’s goalless Nations League draw in Greece. The Freiburg attacker started in Thessaloniki, his second senior international, and was among Germany’s brightest players before the break.
The 23-year-old had also begun the 2-0 win over Serbia. Jürgen Klopp has used the current international window to assess a larger group, and Scherhant made the most of another opportunity from the start.
Germany grew into the match after a measured opening. Scherhant helped drive that improvement with direct running, willing dribbles and regular movement between the lines. He was involved when Jonathan Burkardt appeared to put Germany ahead, only for VAR to rule out the goal for handball.
“We should have rewarded ourselves with that goal,” Scherhant said. “It is frustrating that it was disallowed.”
Positive signs despite stalemate
Scherhant did not dwell on the 0-0 result. He felt Germany had produced enough encouraging passages to take forward, while acknowledging that victory would have made the evening better.
For the Berlin-born forward, the two-match international debut has carried particular weight. He joined Hertha BSC’s academy only at 18 and reached the club’s first-team level a year later. He has now added two Germany appearances after earning his call-up under Klopp.
“I am satisfied,” he said. “It was a lot of fun. From the beginning I wanted to enjoy being on the pitch, not hide, and give everything.”
From outside the academy system to Germany
Scherhant said the speed of his rise has yet to fully sink in. He had not been attached to a professional academy at under-17 or under-19 level before his move into Hertha’s youth set-up.
“This is the German national team. It is more than a dream for me,” he said. “I wanted to enjoy every moment and give more than 100 per cent.
“When I think about where I was five or six years ago, without an academy at under-17 and under-19 level, and then I am here playing for Germany, it gives me goosebumps. It means everything to me to have been part of this.”
