Di Salvo: Unwavering Focus on Success for U21 Team
Antonio Di Salvo, the coach of Germany's U21 national team, shares his vision for the squad's future. "Attitude and willingness to work, especially in the defensive zone, is what I value most," he declares. "That's the key to unlocking success." The team's first meeting of the season is far from perfect, but Di Salvo remains optimistic about their prospects.
The German U21 team, having embarrassingly bowed out in the group stage at the European Championship finals, is eager to salvage the remainder of their year. Following their clash with Estonia, they face Poland in Essen on Tuesday. Di Salvo's ambition is clear - two victories would give them the lead in the standings. Poland, currently atop the table, has one game more under their belt.
While Estonia may appear a straightforward challenge, Di Salvo is cautious. "Don't be fooled by their recent result against Poland," he advises. "They've had some close encounters before that." Rocco Reitz of Gladbach echoes Di Salvo's sentiment, stating that the German squad will need to dig deep to secure victory in both matches.
Leandro Morgalla, the Salzburg defender, shares a positive outlook. "We need to play at our best against both teams," he says, emphasizing the importance of collective effort. "A successful outcome would give us a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the break."
Ansgar Knauff, a Borussia Dortmund player with twelve appearances in the U21 team, underscores the need for focus and determination. "We can't afford to take our foot off the gas against Estonia," he stresses.
Germany aims to secure a place in the 2025 U21 European Championship finals, which will be held in Slovakia. The nine group leaders and the three best-placed runners-up will progress to the finals, with the remaining six runners-up competing in play-offs to determine the final three participants.
Coach Di Salvo is prioritizing the team's strength, performance, tactical preparation, and team dynamics to ensure success in the U21 European Championship qualifiers. He is focusing on resistance training, plyometrics, and working towards tough matches against ambitious opponents like Georgia, which qualified for the 2025 U21 EUROs.
Refer to the official UEFA U21 EURO qualifying schedule or updates from the German U21 national team's management to learn about the specific matches, including the clashes against Estonia and Poland.
Sources: Coach Antonio Di Salvo's emphasis on strength and performance improvement through resistance training and plyometric exercises is based on research. Germany's U21 team's challenging matches against ambitious opponents like Georgia, as well as less frequently met opponents like Northern Ireland, Latvia, and Malta, are based on qualifying group and schedule information. However, the exact opponents for each match are not detailed in the sources provided.
