Overview
- Coverage on Wednesday presents Tah as Germany's established central defender ahead of the team's second World Cup group match in Toronto.
- Coach Julian Nagelsmann has publicly called Tah the 'leader in the back four' and teammates say Tah directs the defence, a role that has moved Antonio Rüdiger down the pecking order.
- Tah recently travelled to Abidjan with his wife and extended family to visit his grandmother and connect with his Ivorian roots, though he has long been committed to playing for Germany despite recruitment approaches in 2014.
- He has used unconventional preparation methods, including a breathing workshop led by a trainer from New Zealand, which he says helps his concentration and personal development.
- Tah's rise builds on strong club seasons at Bayer Leverkusen and FC Bayern, has raised his public profile through DFB media and a call with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and could shape Germany's defensive cohesion for the rest of the tournament.