Lilian Brassier, the 27-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt defender, has decided his international future and will now represent the Togo national team. Born in the Parisian suburbs, the player who earned six caps for France's U19 and U20 sides opted for his ancestral country after months of consideration. Brassier, who joined Eintracht from Stade Rennes for €9.2 million in the summer on a contract until 2031, now faces his first international break as a Togolese international. His club currently sits 8th in the Bundesliga with 11 points from eight games, a record of three wins, two draws and three losses.
He actually made his debut for Togo back on 14 November 2023 in a qualification match against Algeria in Tizi-Ouzou. A second match followed three days later in Lomé. The switch means Eintracht will be without the defender during upcoming international breaks, a factor manager Adi Hütter will account for in his planning. Brassier celebrated his 27th birthday on Monday, just before the decision became public.
Brassier's Role at Frankfurt
For Eintracht Frankfurt, Brassier has made seven Bundesliga appearances so far this season. His current form fits the team's upward trend, heading into the break on a two-game winning run and sitting 8th in the standings with 11 points. Recent results show positive momentum: after a 6-0 loss in Leipzig came a 1-0 win over Köln, a 1-0 defeat in Dortmund, and two victories against Hamburger SV (3-1 and 1-3). The next fixture is on Saturday 7 November away to 14th-placed SC Paderborn 07. The team trails league leaders Bayern München by seven points in the standings.
The recent form of three wins and two losses from the last five matches, including the 3-1 home win over Hamburger SV on Sunday 1 November, provides cause for optimism. In that match, Raphael Onyedika Nwadike and Younes Ebnoutalib scored for Eintracht. Ebnoutalib is the club's current top scorer this season with six goals. The side has scored 13 goals this campaign but conceded 18.
Togo last qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2016 for the 2017 tournament and participated in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. For Brassier, the switch offers the chance to play on a major international stage and assume a key role in his new national team's defence. His move highlights the international makeup of the Eintracht squad, which currently has a balanced record of 13 goals scored and 18 conceded. The team's top scorer this season is Younes Ebnoutalib with six goals.
The ZDF pundit said Brassier "stichelt gegen Mats Hummels". Eintracht will have their defender available for the upcoming Bundesliga and cup fixtures before the next international break arrives. His contract in Frankfurt runs for nearly five more years.
This story first appeared at Bild Sport
