Occasionally, DFB.de takes a look at a first-team player who is set for a special weekend. Today is the turn of Kevin Trapp, who will play his first home game in Paris following the recent terror attacks as Paris Saint-Germain host ES Troyes AC on Saturday at 17:00 CET in the French Ligue 1.
Trapp's first day at his new club PSG as well as he could have wished. Coach Laurent Blanc gave him a hearty welcome and offered his congratulations. But not just for the transfer to the French champions - Trapp began his adventure on July 8th 2015, which was coincidentally also his 25th Birthday. Trapp immediately felt welcome.
Trapp on Ibrahimovic: "A very professional and funny guy"
It fits the bill that Zlatan Ibrahimovic would also find a special way of saying "hello" - at least if one believes the legend surrounding the player. It has been said that Ibrahimovic shouted "Welcome to Paris" to Trapp every time he scored a goal during shooting practice in the new signing's first training session. It is also said that Trapp wasn't too impressed with these antics.
Obviously it may not have happened that way, but with Zlatan Ibrahimovic it might just be true. On the other hand, Trapp's personal assessment of his new teammate contradicts that this may have ever happened, as he once said for example: "I value him very highly as a person. He's very professional and funny. He's different in real life from what the media depicts. You can count on him to be there when you have a problem and you can always ask for his opinion."
"I was also thinking about the national team when I decided to move"
A quarrel between Ibrahimovic and Trapp becomes an unlikely prospect after hearing these words, and Trapp has already taken revenge for the Swede's little jokes. Ibrahimovic is always looking to be the best, but Trapp got one over the Swede in October's player of the month award, which Trapp won just ahead of his superstar teammate.
The German keeper has arrived at a new club, with a new team and new fans. He's already made his first blunder, but he's remembered far more for his saves in the French capital. It appears as if his transfer to PSG has already paid off in one aspect, as he's taken a step closer to the German national team. "It's certainly not a bad thing to be playing international football each season, especially if it's the Champions League," Trapp explains. "Obviously I was thinking about the national team when I decided to come here."
Finally - a call from Andreas Köpke
And the DFB Team thought about him as well, and he finally received a call from goalkeeping coach Andreas Köpke ahead of the last international games of 2015. Trapp earned his first national team call-up and would be part of the squad of the current world champions.
Unfortunately, this story has got a few hitches. First of all, it's not entirely true. Trapp had already once been included in the DFB squad: On June 13th in Faro as Germany was set to play Gibraltar, his name was listed on the squad sheet but he wasn't there in person - strange but true.
Every European qualifier needs to list three keepers on their official match report. Against Gibraltar these were Kevin Trapp, Ron-Robert Zieler and Roman Weidenfeller, since Marc-André ter Stegen, Bernd Leno and Timo Horn were playing for the U21 side and Manuel Neuer was already on holiday. It was planned that Trapp would come to Faro if Weidenfeller or Zieler should pick up an injury in the run-up to the game. This didn't happen and Trapp was forced to remain patient until Köpke called.
A must-win match against Troyes
Trapp has returned to his club PSG in the meantime, and next up are ES Troyes AC who will head to the French capital on Saturday afternoon. It's a game that resembles a match-up between David and Goliath. The table toppers are taking on the bottom side in the league. PSG have ammassed 38 points this season, compared to just four for Troyes. A squad costing 408 million Euros is facing a team worth 28 million. Surely three points on the cards for Trapp & Co.
But it's not that simple. The game will be played under unusual and rather sad circumstances, as it will be the first match since the deadly terror attacks in Paris two weeks ago. This brings us back to the other issue connected with Trapp's time in the national team. He was there when the suicide bombers detonated their explosive belts outside of the Stade de France. He spent the night in the changing rooms together with his teammates. Everyone was devastated, and being a PSG player, Trapp had an even stronger connection to the tragedy. A day after the attacks Trapp posted the following on his Facebook page: "Arrived safely today in Germany. My thoughts are with the victims and their relatives."
The normal day-to-day routine has returned since then. PSG recorded a 2-1 victory at FC Lorient in the Ligue 1 and a 5-0 thumping of Malmö in the Champions League. Two away games and two wins since the terror attacks, but now they are set for their first home game. Trapp and his teammates are prepared for an emotional return to their home ground.
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Occasionally, DFB.de takes a look at a first-team player who is set for a special weekend. Today is the turn of Kevin Trapp, who will play his first home game in Paris following the recent terror attacks as Paris Saint-Germain host ES Troyes AC on Saturday at 17:00 CET in the French Ligue 1.
Trapp's first day at his new club PSG as well as he could have wished. Coach Laurent Blanc gave him a hearty welcome and offered his congratulations. But not just for the transfer to the French champions - Trapp began his adventure on July 8th 2015, which was coincidentally also his 25th Birthday. Trapp immediately felt welcome.
Trapp on Ibrahimovic: "A very professional and funny guy"
It fits the bill that Zlatan Ibrahimovic would also find a special way of saying "hello" - at least if one believes the legend surrounding the player. It has been said that Ibrahimovic shouted "Welcome to Paris" to Trapp every time he scored a goal during shooting practice in the new signing's first training session. It is also said that Trapp wasn't too impressed with these antics.
Obviously it may not have happened that way, but with Zlatan Ibrahimovic it might just be true. On the other hand, Trapp's personal assessment of his new teammate contradicts that this may have ever happened, as he once said for example: "I value him very highly as a person. He's very professional and funny. He's different in real life from what the media depicts. You can count on him to be there when you have a problem and you can always ask for his opinion."
"I was also thinking about the national team when I decided to move"
A quarrel between Ibrahimovic and Trapp becomes an unlikely prospect after hearing these words, and Trapp has already taken revenge for the Swede's little jokes. Ibrahimovic is always looking to be the best, but Trapp got one over the Swede in October's player of the month award, which Trapp won just ahead of his superstar teammate.
The German keeper has arrived at a new club, with a new team and new fans. He's already made his first blunder, but he's remembered far more for his saves in the French capital. It appears as if his transfer to PSG has already paid off in one aspect, as he's taken a step closer to the German national team. "It's certainly not a bad thing to be playing international football each season, especially if it's the Champions League," Trapp explains. "Obviously I was thinking about the national team when I decided to come here."
Finally - a call from Andreas Köpke
And the DFB Team thought about him as well, and he finally received a call from goalkeeping coach Andreas Köpke ahead of the last international games of 2015. Trapp earned his first national team call-up and would be part of the squad of the current world champions.
Unfortunately, this story has got a few hitches. First of all, it's not entirely true. Trapp had already once been included in the DFB squad: On June 13th in Faro as Germany was set to play Gibraltar, his name was listed on the squad sheet but he wasn't there in person - strange but true.
Every European qualifier needs to list three keepers on their official match report. Against Gibraltar these were Kevin Trapp, Ron-Robert Zieler and Roman Weidenfeller, since Marc-André ter Stegen, Bernd Leno and Timo Horn were playing for the U21 side and Manuel Neuer was already on holiday. It was planned that Trapp would come to Faro if Weidenfeller or Zieler should pick up an injury in the run-up to the game. This didn't happen and Trapp was forced to remain patient until Köpke called.
A must-win match against Troyes
Trapp has returned to his club PSG in the meantime, and next up are ES Troyes AC who will head to the French capital on Saturday afternoon. It's a game that resembles a match-up between David and Goliath. The table toppers are taking on the bottom side in the league. PSG have ammassed 38 points this season, compared to just four for Troyes. A squad costing 408 million Euros is facing a team worth 28 million. Surely three points on the cards for Trapp & Co.
But it's not that simple. The game will be played under unusual and rather sad circumstances, as it will be the first match since the deadly terror attacks in Paris two weeks ago. This brings us back to the other issue connected with Trapp's time in the national team. He was there when the suicide bombers detonated their explosive belts outside of the Stade de France. He spent the night in the changing rooms together with his teammates. Everyone was devastated, and being a PSG player, Trapp had an even stronger connection to the tragedy. A day after the attacks Trapp posted the following on his Facebook page: "Arrived safely today in Germany. My thoughts are with the victims and their relatives."
The normal day-to-day routine has returned since then. PSG recorded a 2-1 victory at FC Lorient in the Ligue 1 and a 5-0 thumping of Malmö in the Champions League. Two away games and two wins since the terror attacks, but now they are set for their first home game. Trapp and his teammates are prepared for an emotional return to their home ground.
