Triumphant German U21s Battle past Italy in Thrilling Euro Quarterfinal
Under-21 team triumphs following significant lineup shift - Italy encounter in the quarterfinals - U21Secures Victory Following Major Squad Shuffle - Italy Contests in the Quarterfinals
The German U21 team secures their spot in the Euro Championship semifinals after a gripping quarterfinal win against Italy. After a significant squad rotation and the absence of previous star Nick Woltemade, Germany humbled reigning champions England 2:1 in their group final (2:0). Frankfurt's Ansgar Knauff (3rd minute) and Mainz's Nelson Weiper (33rd) gave their teammates on the bench something to cheer about, but Alex Scott's goal (76th) momentarily dampened the spirits.
Knauff shared his thoughts on the victory, "We've proven that we have depth in our squad, which speaks volumes about the quality. Everyone's ready - we've shown that today. Now we're aiming for the semifinals." He downplayed his role in the opening goal, "I'm just happy I could help the team today."
Coach Di Salvo explains rotation strategy
Past encounters between the two nations include Germany's 0:2 defeat to England in the 2023 Euro Championship. But in this 13th clash between the teams, Germany claimed their third victory against their rivals with a crowd of 5,624 spectators in Nitra.
Coach Antonio Di Salvo opted for a radical lineup change, replacing all eleven players after securing a quarterfinal spot. "I initially planned to keep one axis on the field, but after discussing with the players, they felt playing every three days was tough. Then one puzzle piece leads to the next," explained the 46-year-old about the drastic change in strategy.
Stellar performance from the reserves
Over the past matches against Slovenia (3:0) and the Czech Republic (4:2), the reserves demonstrated their potential, earning a spot in Sunday's quarterfinal against Italy, the joint record Euro champions with Spain.
Neither the squad reshuffle nor the temporary power outage towards the end of the first half affected the German team. Against England, who faced elimination if they lost by a significant margin, Germany started the match on a high note.
Exciting start for the German team
After some impressive pressure, the ball found its way to Lukas Ullrich. The Mönchengladbach left-back showed exceptional calmness, and his cross found Knauff. In his 27th U21 international, the Frankfurt Champions League player found the back of the net with his fourth goal. Di Salvo roared in approval - and was pleased with his team's performance throughout.
England applied constant pressure in the second half, but they couldn't match Germany's first-half intensity. Italy awaits the German team in the semifinals. The team's coach stressed their readiness, "We've shown strong performances. No team likes to play against us."
- Italy
- Football Euros
- England
- Ansgar Knauff
- Nitra
- Slovenia
- Victorious march
- Di Salvo
- Germany
- Czech Republic
- Spain
- German Football Association
- Alex Scott
- Sat.1
- Antonio Di Salvo
Enrichment Data:
Unconventional Strategy Leads to Success
The Germany U21 team's "mega rotation" strategy, a mix of fresh players and experienced regulars, contributed to their successful campaign in the UEFA U21 Euro 2025. This tactic was particularly evident in their semi-final showdown against Italy, which ended in a 3-2 victory for Germany after extra time.
Quarterfinal Match Highlights: Germany vs Italy
- The quarterfinal, held in Dunajská Streda, was characterized by intense moments and shifting momentum.
- Germany overcame an initial 1-0 deficit on a goal from top scorer Nick Woltemade to equalize.
- Italy's Wilfred Gnonto received a red card in the 81st minute, reducing Italy to ten men.
- Despite the advantage, Germany could not break through until extra time.
- Germany's defeat of Italy is the sole loss the Italian squad suffered in the tournament without losing a 90-minute game[1][4][5].
Overcoming the Odds
- Germany's success demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the tournament.
- Their ability to overcome Italy, a formidable opponent with a rich history of U21 football, underscored their potential as tournament favorites.
In summary, Germany's unconventional rotation strategy, designed to ensure player freshness and maintain tactical flexibility, played a significant role in their triumphant quarterfinal victory against Italy. This result sets them up for a highly anticipated semi-final against France, with the team presenting impressive depth, determination, and top-tier talent throughout the UEFA U21 Euro 2025[1][4][5].
The victory against Italy in the Euro Championship quarterfinal propelled the German U21 team closer to securing the title, following their unconventional rotation strategy introduced by coach Antonio Di Salvo. In the semifinals, they will face France, aiming to repeat their success in the football leagues across Europe, including the Premier League.
Despite delivering a statement victory against England (2:1) in their group stage final, the German team's performance against Italy was marked by exceptional resilience and adaptability. In the coming semifinal match against France, they seek to further demonstrate their strength and potential as tournament favorites. [Unconventional Strategy Leads to Success, Quarterfinal Match Highlights: Germany vs Italy, Overcoming the Odds]
