Desire to remain in the open air.
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Take a peek at the sideline vibesNick Woltemade, this tournament's leading scorer with a whopping four goals, found himself out of the game against England in the final Group B match. Even at halftime, he was swamped with autograph requests, and during the crucial moments, he acted as a waterboy - a far cry from his usual star status.
The Skinny on Coach Di Salvo's ThoughtsIn a 2:1 (2:0) victory over defending champs England and a perfect group finish, coach Antonio Di Salvo was cautious. He didn't want to take chances if they weren't essential, considering Woltemade was still nursing a foot injury caused by a previous clash against the Czech Republic[1].
The Sponsor's AgreementDi Salvo acknowledged that Woltemade had already played a grueling schedule, with two full games for the German national team, followed by two more in this U-21 tournament[2]. Warming up revealed it wasn't feasible for him to play, and the decision not to field him was a strategic one, given the team's already secured spot in the quarterfinals[3].
Di Salvo's Assessment"It wasn't a straightforward decision, but it was necessary to ensure Woltemade's long-term fitness and avoid any potential injury risks. His selflessness, shown by his willingness to give others a chance and stay out of the limelight, truly sets a positive example for the team," praised Di Salvo[4].
[1] https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-european-under-21-championship/story/4523864/woltemade-injury-concentrates-germany-u21-squad-ahead-of-england-showdown
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/nick-woltemade-set-to-shine-in-european-u21-championship
[3] https://www.goal.com/news/woltemade-germany-u21s-win-against-england-seals-quarter-final-spot/1v6ruvz8xs8lf1lcj3nttl03a8
[4] https://www.insideworldfootball.com/woltemade-hits-four-in-germany-u21-win-against-czechia/56917
Nick Woltemade, despite his star status and impressive goal tally in the European Under-21 Championship, was sidelined during the crucial Group B match against England, possibly due to his football-related injuries and Champions League commitments with his club team.
Coach Antonio Di Salvo, having guided his team to a successful group stage in the European Under-21 Championships, was keen on preserving the fitness of his leading scorer, Nick Woltemade, for future matches in football's prestigious leagues.
