Shaking off the Shadows: Germany's U21 Kicks off "Grimey Matches" toward Nagelsmann's Euro Mission
Underage team U21 initiates with "offensive tactics" under Nagelsmann's command in the European championship
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After the disastrous 2023 tournament, Germany's U21 football squad is ready to write a new inspiring story. A new national player leads the team, an astonishing streak sparks hope for the fourth title, and there's a mission from the senior national team.
Julian Nagelsmann sends warm wishes to Nick Woltemade as he embarks on the Euro with his beloved U21. "We're meant to bring something good back to Germany," Woltemade stated, echoing the senior team's vision. After the Nations League title project flopped, Germany's juniors aspire to become European champions for the fourth time in Slovakia.
"I've seen how magical this moment can be," said captain Eric Martel, reminiscing about a victory celebration much like the one following their second division championship win. An Euro triumph, like those achieved by teams featuring Manuel Neuer (2009), Serge Gnabry (2017), and Florian Wirtz (2021), is a whole different ballgame. "U21 is the foundation of everything, and therefore, it's a very important team and a very important competition," said DFB sports director Rudi Völler.
Turbulent Season Culminates in Euro U21 Talent Declines Nagelsmann's Invitation
As title contenders like Spain and France open their Euro campaigns on the day after the tournament begins, coach Antonio Di Salvo's team will take on Slovenia in Nitra, Slovakia on Thursday (9 PM/Sat.1 and live ticker on ntv.de). "A tournament start is always crucial," emphasized Woltemade. In 2023 it didn't go well, and they departed without a win after two games. But since the 2-0 loss to England in the group final two years ago, the German U21 team has been unbeaten.
No Moukoko, But With Woltemade
"We can't rely on that too much, because the real deal is coming next, and the Euro is here," said goalkeeper Noah Atubolu. The Freiburg goalkeeper is now the undisputed number one due to Jonas Urbig's absence. Like Urbig, with Neuer as his backup, his new teammate Tom Bischof and the hard-to-replace Dortmund players Maxi Beier and Karim Adeyemi are also sitting out the Euro due to the Club World Cup.
"We have a good team," Di Salvo emphasized, no longer lamenting the FIFA tournament. "The excitement is sky-high among all of us." At least, the 46-year-old, whose contract was renewed before the Euro like in 2023, was able to bring Paul Wanner, loaned from Bayern to Heidenheim, to Slovakia. However, Youssoufa Moukoko, loaned from BVB to Nice, is absent due to a lack of form and playing time.
Embracing the Grime
The team has scored plenty of goals in recent matches without Moukoko, who anchored the U21 lineup. Woltemade scored three goals in the last official friendly before the Euro in a 3-1 win against Spain in March. "We've shown against numerous opponents that we can definitely keep up," asserted Woltemade. "So I'm only focusing on us and hoping we'll reach far. Who we meet doesn't really matter to me."
Woltemade was warmly welcomed in the hotel lobby in the peaceful Modra, following a delayed arrival due to the Nations League. Unlike his quiet debut role in the Nagelsmann team, Woltemade is now the face of the U21 squad. And an embodiment of how quickly a player can find success a year before the World Cup, much like captain Joshua Kimmich did. "Recommending oneself with performances in the U21 is advisable for every player," said Nagelsmann in the Sat.1 docu "The Boys of Germany"
Besides Germany, Spain led by Barcelona prospects Gerard Martín and Pablo Torre, France with Bayern-loaned Mathys Tel to Tottenham, and England with Arsenal striker Ethan Nwaneri are among the favorites. "We don't need to hide, and we can enter the games with a lot of self-confidence. However, talking too much about how great and invincible we are doesn't help," warned captain Martel.
Dirty Games Ahead
To secure the group victory, it will likely be next Wednesday in Nitra against defending champion England once again. But the matches now with the merciless Slovenia and next Sunday against the unrelenting Czech Republic will also be "ugly games," as Martel ominously stated. Interestingly, like England, the Czech Republic was a group opponent in 2023. The two top teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will likely face Spain or Italy.
The Euro project is coined with the slogan "We want to get to Bratislava." The semi-finals and the final on June 28th will take place there. Cologne's Jan Thielmann leaves little to the imagination. "Our only ambition is to reach Bratislava for the final and win the title."
Source: ntv.de, Christian Kunz, Tom Bachmann and Michael Rossmann, dpa
- Football
- DFB Youth
- European Championships
Insights from Enrichment Data:
- Euro 2025 is taking place in Slovakia from June 11 to June 28, 2025.
- Germany named a 26-man preliminary squad for Euro 2025, with the final squad to be reduced to 23 by June 4.
- The tournament started on June 11, 2025, with all teams playing their first matches by June 12.
- Nick Woltemade and Noah Atubolu are key players for Germany's U21 team in Euro 2025.
- Germany's U21 team will face the Czech Republic U21s on Sunday and the England U21s on Wednesday.
- Encouraged by the promising performances of their football squad, the community is eagerly anticipating the U21 team's participation in the European Championships, particularly as youthful leaders like Nick Woltemade take the field.
- Amidst stiff competition from teams such as Spain, France, and England, the German U21 team players are focused on their football skills and prepared for the "grimey matches" ahead, aiming to secure wins and advance towards Bratislava for the semi-finals and the final.
