Kurios: Floodlights Falter, U21's Victory Remains Unscathed Against England, Even with a Brand-New Starting Eleven
England's under-21 squad faces a setback as a fresh recruit is ruled out from consideration.
Twitter | Facebook | Whatsapp | Email | Print | Copy Link Mega-Rotation? No Problem! The German U21 secures its place in the EM quarter-finals against Italy as group leaders. Against England, there's a third consecutive win in the third tournament match. And that with a lineup that was far from anticipated.
The show must go on without Nick Woltemade: Despite a complete overhaul, the German U21 continues its winning spree at the EM, underscoring its title aspirations. The DFB team defeated European champions England 2:1 (2:0) and, for the first time, survived an EM preliminary round without suffering a single defeat. In the quarter-finals, it will be against Italy on Sunday (18 or 21 o'clock/Sat.1) in Dunajska Streda.
Goals for the dominant DFB squad came from Ansgar Knauff of Eintracht Frankfurt (3.) and Nelson Weiper of 1. FSV Mainz 05 (33.). England only managed to find the back of the net once through Alex Scott (76.), but still advanced to the quarter-finals despite the loss. "We have a top-tier squad from 1 to 23. I'm glad I could contribute to the team. Now our focus is on the quarter-finals," said Knauff on Sat.1.
Following wins against Slovenia (3:0) and Czech Republic (4:2), DFB coach Antonio Di Salvo opted for a complete roster change, even leaving four-time EM goal-scorer Woltemade on the bench – choosing instead to autograph memorabilia during halftime.
The Champions' StumbleSpectacle Turns Sour
England got off to a rough start in front of 5624 spectators, including roughly 500 German fans. Germany took the lead from the opening attack: After a splendid pass from Lukas Ullrich, Knauff cleverly slotted the ball into the far corner. Di Salvo expressed faith in his team ahead of the match, mentioning the team's mega-rotation agreement.
With the lead, the DFB team allowed England to control the ball as their defensive unit remained solid. Only a minor blunder by Jamil Siebert provided England with a viable opportunity, which Jonathan Rowe narrowly missed (21.). In contrast, Germany extended their lead: After a cross from Knauff, Weiper calmly headed in, marking his first goal in the U21 jersey.
England, however, began to struggle, with overall lackluster performances and Liverpool striker Harvey Elliott barely making an impact. Despite a brief power outage, England had more possession in the second half, but Germany's defense held strong, conceding only one goal in the 76th minute. Hertha goalkeeper Tjark Ernst managed to keep the win secure in the final phases.
As group leaders, Germany will now face Italy. The match brings a special element for Di Salvo and striker Nicolo Tresoldi, whose families hail from Italy. "That's where my parents come from, and I'm looking forward to it," said Di Salvo. In the history of the EM, the encounter between these two nations has only occurred twice before, both in 2009 (1:0 in the semi-finals) and 2017 (0:1 in the preliminary round), with the DFB team ultimately claiming the title in both instances.
Source: ntv.de, dbe/sid
In further discussions, it's worth mentioning Germany's relentless determination, exceptional teamwork, and adaptability in the face of unexpected challenges. Their victory over England demonstrated their potential to become strong contenders for the U21 European title.
The U21 German football team, with a focus on junior football, proved their exceptional capabilities in the EM, earning their third consecutive win against England in the third tournament match. Despite a significant lineup change, they continued to display their skills in sports, posing as strong contenders for the title.
