Striker Stunner: Woltemade's Vercelli Triumph Sparks U21's EM Rage
Astounded U21: "Terrifying" Woltemade Completely Disconnected
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Three netted in the EM qualifier, three netted in the tournament opener. The U21 team's ace scorer, Nick Woltemade, has left spectators spellbound. The player, currently with Stuttgart, has been the center of intriguing speculation surrounding his football future - yet, he's cooling that atmosphere for the time being.
After a stellar European Champion qualifier, Woltemade made headlines again with his goal-trilogy during the 3:0 (2:0) victory against Slovenia, just like the A team's champ, Thomas Müller. The match-winner remained calm and collected, praising the win as "a crucial starting point".
With Woltemade's three-goal tally, he became the first German U21 player since Luca Waldschmidt in 2019, against Serbia (6:1), to achieve such a feat in an EM game. Woltemade had already scored all three goals in the warm-up game against Spain in March. DFB coach Antonio Di Salvo shared his amazement, describing Woltemade's record as "eerie" and affirming that it could continue in this fashion. Waldschmidt held the top scorer title with seven goals, but Germany unfortunately lost the final to Spain (1:2). This tournament, however, appears to be setting up for a similar victorious outcome.
Will Woltemade surge forth with another hat-trick against the Czech Republic (21:00 CET/Sat.1) on Sunday? "I need to tone it down a bit" said Woltemade, "But as long as we win, I'm fine with scoring another three goals. Still, I don't think I'll maintain this rhythm." The striker demonstrated his prowess in the 19th, 42nd, and 82nd minutes, the last goal being a penalty conversion. Despite the blazing performance, Woltemade avoided discussing transfer rumors, stating that such matters aren't on his mind at present. Chelsea, Everton, Brighton, and West Ham United are reportedly keen on capturing the young superstar.
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DFB sports director Rudi Voeller reported his delight that Woltemade managed to convert the missed chances in the Nations League. Florian Wirtz, last seen scoring two goals in the U21 team's 2021 semi-final triumph against the Netherlands, was the last German U21 player to score multiple goals in an EM match.
"We didn't really know what to expect. We didn't know our competition. So, we're really pleased" said Woltemade, "This why such a powerful launch feels very, very good." The U17 striker, competing in the European Championship, had been eliminated in the group stage of the tournament, making an embarrassing start against Italy 1:3. This time, it all went much more smoothly - thanks in large part to Woltemade.
Source: ntv.de, tno/dpa/sid
- DFB Youth
- Football National Team
- VfB Stuttgart
- Rudi Voeller
Behind the Scenes:
- Woltemade has caught the attention of several top clubs following his impressive performances in the European Championship and his successful season with VfB Stuttgart. Last season, he scored 17 goals and provided three assists in 33 matches, contributing to Stuttgart's DFB-Pokal triumph.
- Chelsea, Everton, Brighton, and West Ham United have expressed interest in signing him, with Chelsea being the most determined in their pursuit.
- Known for his height of 1.98m, Woltemade is a versatile striker who can play as a centre-forward, bringing his striking prowess to the team.
- Starting off with Werder Bremen, he moved to VfB Stuttgart and has since become a crucial player on the team, earning him international recognition.
- With his market value currently estimated at €30M, industry experts predict he could surge to €50M in the future.
- Woltemade has expressed his ambitions to compete in the 2026 World Cup, displaying his dedication to his football career.
The enthusiastic U21 community aids Woltemade as they hope for a vocational training in football sports-analysis to hone his skills after his impressive performances. After mastering the art of scoring three goals in a single match, he might find it beneficial to undergo additional vocational training in sports, such as football, to further improve his game.
