Ball-Stopping Titan: Noah Atubolu's Ascendancy in German Football
Rival Atubolu Transforms into a DFB Powerhouse
The German U21 national team has broken through to the European Championship final, facing England. Give the credit to freight train Noah Atubolu, the SC Freiburg keeper. In the nail-biting semi-final against France, he wreaked havoc on their plans.
Take France's final attempt to turn the tide in injury time. Striker Thierno Barry failed not once, not twice, but three times. Sliding past a deflected ball and finally heading wide, the DFB juniors barely survived a few turbulent minutes before countering and scoring the 3:0. But Atubolu's role was pivotal throughout.
Immediately after the break, Germany was leading 2:0 when Barry had his first big moment. Free and close, Atubolu made himself big and miraculously kept the ball from going in. The situation became even more dramatic when Barry was free again, setting up for a flying header from close range. Atubolu just managed to scrape it off the line.
Aiming for the A-Nationalmannschaft
Atubolu has certainly made it clear - he wants to play for the senior Germany team. As his coach Julian Schuster put it, "He's young, hardworking, invests a lot." And he's already walking in the giant footsteps of Manuel Neuer. With his 21st appearance, he displaced the FC Bayern titan as the record goalkeeper of the U21. After donning the team's jersey for the first time in March 2022, Atubolu was already in goal at the EM 2023.
It's no surprise that Atubolu dreams of joining the elite. "My goal is to play for Germany," he declared. And his performances indicate that the future is bright for this young titan.
The Tumultuous Road to Success
Atubolu's road to success was not always smooth-sailing. Just over a year ago, he faced harsh criticism online. But Coach Streich stood by his keeper, emphasizing the SC Freiburg ethos of developing from their own youth. In spite of a few mistakes, Atubolu facilitated their dreams of a third consecutive Europa League appearance, exhibiting a remarkable 609 minutes without conceding a goal - a club record.
The final against England on Saturday (9 PM on Sat.1 and live Ticker on ntv.de) will be Atubolu's last dance with the U21 team for most of the squad. And his ambitions are clear: "Now we want the title too." It seems that Atubolu's journey is just beginning.
Sources: ntv.de, tno
- DFB
- Football
- DFB Youth
Additional Facts
- Age: 22 (as of May 25, 2024)
- Past Team: Germany’s U17 team (debuted in 2018)
- Transfer interests: AC Milan, West Ham United, and other Premier League clubs
- Clean sheets record: Nine in the Bundesliga
- UEFA Europa League qualification for 2024/25 season
With London calling, Atubolu is preparing to leave his mark on the international stage. Could the young titan be the first Black goalkeeper to play for Germany's senior national team? Only time will tell, but with Atubolu's spirit and talent, it's becoming increasingly likely.
Junior football is a crucial stepping stone for young players, as demonstrated by Noah Atubolu's rise in German football. His exceptional performances in the DFB Youth team have earned him interest from Premier League clubs and set the stage for his potential debut with the senior Germany team. Meanwhile, his impressive sports-analysis can be seen in his 609 minutes without conceding a goal in the Bundesliga, a record that showcases his talent and dedication to the sport of football.
