Europe’s Most Prolific Striker Has the Option to Represent Four Different Countries

Given Denmark’s noticeable struggles in front of goal and Mika Biereth’s impressive scoring form, it’s clear that the 22-year-old forward from AS Monaco, one of Europe’s rising stars, is likely to be named in Brian Riemer’s Danish squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Portugal. The real question, however, is whether he even desires to represent Denmark.

The prolific forward, who has eclipsed Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s scoring record in Ligue 1 with an impressive tally of three hat-tricks and ten goals across seven matches, is still to confirm his commitment to a senior national team.

Biereth, who joined Monaco for €13 million from Sturm Graz in January, has made five appearances for Denmark’s Under-19 side and six for the Under-21s. Nevertheless, this doesn’t guarantee that he will don the national colours for the senior team against Portugal, as he still holds the option to choose from four countries, having yet to compete at the A-international senior level.

Born in London in 2003 to a Danish-German father and a Bosnian mother, he is also eligible to represent Bosnia, Germany, and England. Biereth has reportedly not made his decision yet, but he acknowledges the importance of the choice ahead.

“I didn’t anticipate these questions a month and a half ago, but success naturally brings them forth. It’s a rare situation—few players have the chance to represent four different countries. The call is mine to make,” Biereth mentioned following Friday’s match against Reims.

In straightforward terms, according to FIFA regulations, a player may represent:

•    The country where they were born; or

•    A country if a grandparent was born there; or

•    A country if married to a citizen; or

•    A country if they are a naturalised citizen (residing and working in that nation).*

If a player has represented a nation at youth level (under 23), they can apply to switch allegiances as long as they have not played for the senior national team in a competitive fixture.

The Danish national team coach, Brian Riemer, was in Monaco on Friday night to assess Biereth’s current form during the match against Reims, where the 22-year-old scored his third hat-trick.

Riemer has previously stated that he wouldn’t select a player for the Danish national team solely to prevent them from representing other countries out of respect for the existing squad.

However, with Riemer lacking a plethora of in-form strikers and Belgian league leading scorer, Kasper Dolberg, likely sidelined due to a knee injury, it would be a significant surprise if Biereth was not included in the Danish squad to be announced on Tuesday.