"We nailed it!" DFB juniors are ecstatic after semifinal victory
Exceptionally Lucky DFB Juniors Found in a Flurry of Fortune
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link The German U21 is on the verge of its fourth EM title. Following the semifinal triumph against France, the championship is up for grabs in the final against England. Nick Woltemade keeps breaking records - a feat within reach. The team will receive substantial support in the final.
Antonio Di Salvo let out a triumphant roar into the Slovak night sky before the final whistle even blew. "Boys, we've got it!", he yelled, as the U21 European semifinal was still underway. Shortly after, it was official: 3:0 (2:0) against France following a remarkable performance. Now, it's England in the final on Saturday for the title.
"Absolute madness, final! That was our goal, and now we've achieved it. We sent France packing, and we aim to do the same to the English.", said goalscorer Nelson Weiper on Sat.1. The Mainz player Weiper (8.), Stuttgart's new national player Nick Woltemade (14.), and Brighton and Hove Albion's Brajan Gruda (90.+3) netted for Germany in front of 11,913 spectators in Kosice, securing the fifth victory in five EM games.
Noah Atubolu surpasses Manuel Neuer
The team began with a dream start, displaying remarkable resilience against France's attacking squad featuring former Bayern star Mathys Tel. And it had an exceptional goalkeeper in Noah Atubolu - not just because of his amazing saves against France's substitute Thierno Barry (46./68.). With his 21st appearance for the U21, the Freiburg player left Manuel Neuer behind, holding the record for the most appearances in this age group for Germany. "That was the most significant and best U21 game for me," said Atubolu on Sat.1.
Atubolu took the U21 jersey for the first time in March 2022 and was already in goal for the EM 2023. "Noah is having an outstanding European Championship," said Di Salvo. "We brought him onboard three years ago knowing he's a top goalkeeper, a talent. I don't know about these things, but the goalkeeper coaches said, take him. And that's why he deserves to play so many games."
Football Impressive Win Despite Missed Chances: Germany's U21 Dream Final With six goals to his name, new German striker hope Woltemade is well on course to become the fourth German top scorer in a U21 EM after Pierre Littbarski (1982), Luca Waldschmidt (2019), and Lukas Nmecha (2021). The record is also within reach, as no player has ever scored more than seven goals in this youth tournament. In the final on Saturday in Bratislava, Julian Nagelsmann, who recently promoted Woltemade to the A national team, is expected to be in attendance. The DFB juniors are chasing their fourth title win after 2009, 2017, and 2021.
Sports "The Best Youngsters": These Football Talents Nagelsmann Has his Eye On Without the regular captain Chrislain Matsima from FC Augsburg, who sustained six stitches on his lip after Germany's 3-2 win against Denmark, France's defense was riddled with obvious weaknesses. Bundesliga defenders Castello Lukeba of RB Leipzig and Kiliann Sildillia from SC Freiburg didn't offer much support initially. Weiper's mistake led to an assist for Woltemade, who required two attempts to put Germany ahead to the second time.
France took some time to recover from the shock. The U21 team of the Grande Nation posed a challenge with a 0:2 deficit, but lacked precision. The team also overcame the early injury setback of Max Rosenfelder, who struggled with tears after the quarter-final against Italy. "He immediately knew something was wrong. We're really sorry for Max. Now we have to try to win this for Max.", said Di Salvo. In contrast to the first half, Germany managed to alleviate some pressure. Nebel, Weiper, Woltemade, or Merlin Röhl missed the comforting 3:0 goal, which was eventually scored by Gruda.
Source: ntv.de, tno/dpa/sid
- DFB Youth
- Football
- Julian Nagelsmann
Enrichment Data:
Nick Woltemade's Performance
Woltemade was instrumental in Germany's offensive dominance. He contributed significantly by netting his sixth goal of the tournament during the semifinal against France, and doubled Germany's lead early in the match. He played a key role in the opening goal by putting pressure on the defense, forcing a defensive error that enabled Weiper to score first. Woltemade's clinical finishing and impact on the pitch solidified his status as the tournament's top scorer so far[3][5].
Noah Atubolu's Performance
Goalkeeper Noah Atubolu was indispensable in maintaining Germany's clean sheet. During the semifinal, he made a sensational save against France's Thierno Barry with 20 minutes left, halting a potential comeback. His confidence and reflexes were imperative in keeping France at bay under intense pressure, emphasizing his importance between the posts for Germany's U21 squad[5].
Their combined efforts helped Germany secure a spot in the final against England, setting up a highly anticipated match on June 28, 2025, in Bratislava. Germany’s team has been at the top throughout the tournament, having previously defeated England in the group stage and holding a strong record in recent U21 European Championships, with two titles in the last four editions[2][4][5].
I'm not going to be able to do it, but watching Nick Woltemade and Noah Atubolu in the sports of football has been awe-inspiring. Despite missing chances, they played a key role in helping Germany's U21 team advance to the final against England, where they aim to secure their fourth EM title.
