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LONDON: Rani Khedira, brother of Germany star Sami Khedira, has turned down the chance to play for Tunisia at this summer’s World Cup.
The Khedira brothers were born in Stuttgart to a Tunisian father. Both Rani, who is 24, and Sami, 30, played for German junior teams while Juventus midfielder Sami has gone on to become a World Cup winner with 72 appearances for Germany.
Rani Khedira, a defensive midfielder with Augsburg, said he was flattered to be approached but had turned the offer down.
“It filled me with pride that the Tunisian association thought of me,” he said. “I was born and raised in Germany, I only speak German — that was crucial. My game is about communication, instructions and tactics, time is too short, it’s too difficult. I cannot help the team and give my best performance.”
The younger Khedira said he wanted to be fair to other players who have earned the chance to represent Tunisia at a World Cup.
“I don’t want to take a place away from any of them,” he said.
“It has been a long process with those in my sphere of influence, my dad is a proud Tunisian, I carry both countries in my heart and wish them the best, but, in the end, it was the right decision.”
Tunisia face a tough task to get out of their group in Russia, having been drawn with Belgium, England and Panama in Group G this June.