BERLIN (AFP)– Schalke 04 goal-scorer Julian Draxler was barely old enough to join his team-mates for a celebration beer after winning the German Cup final, but the wunderkind has impressed national coach Joachim Loew.
The 17-year-old netted Schalke's opening goal in the 5-0 demolition of second division Duisburg in Saturday's German Cup final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
He first grabbed the limelight in January when he came off the bench to score Schalke's winner in the 3-2 victory over Nuremberg in the quarter-finals.
In Berlin's cup final, he unleashed an unstoppable volley from just outside the penalty area in the 18th minute which put his team on the path to their fifth cup title, but the teenager was taking it all in his stride.
"It's a mega-cool feeling," he said with the winners medal around his neck.
"One or two years ago, I was watching games like this on the television and seeing players lift the trophy. Now I have had it in my hands.
"Beer is allowed (in Germany) from 16, right?," he asked with a cheeky grin.
"Even if not, I've definitely had one or two."
Draxler will only turn 18 in September and having played for Germany's Under-18 side, Loew now has him on his radar.
"He has attracted our attention in the last six months," he said.
"He is a great talent and has a good opportunity to impress with Schalke.
"He is a player who plays with a cheeky and carefree style. We are excited about him."
There was outcry in Germany when Draxler, having become one of the youngest players to play in the Bundesliga, quit high-school under the advice of former Schalke boss Felix Magath.
Since February, he has been combining football training with studying for his Abitur -- Germany's university entrance exams -- at Gesamtschule Berger Feld, in the shadow of Schalke's Veltins Arena stadium.
Both Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Real Madrid's Mesut Ozil are former pupils.
"It's a kind of character building," Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff said of Draxler's balancing act.
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