Underage Team U21 Secures Victory Following Major Lineup Shuffle - Quarter-final Match against Italy
The German U21s Storm into the EM Quarterfinals, Triumphing as Group Winners in an Astonishing Lineup Shake-up
A thrilling victory against England has propelled the German U21 national team into the EM quarterfinals, securing a third consecutive tournament triumph with a unique formation. Their star player, Nick Woltemade, was missing from the lineup, and after a substantial rotation, they narrowly beat England 2:1 (2:0).
Overjoyed with their success, the German U21 players celebrated and looked ahead to the clash against Italy. Despite the departure of Woltemade, a pivotal forward and a target for top European clubs such as Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Atletico Madrid, the team selected by the German Football Association dominated England in the group finale. Frankfurt's Ansgar Knauff (3rd minute) and Mainz's Nelson Weiper (33rd) cheered their teammates from the bench as they scored. England's Alex Scott's goal (76th) briefly marred the celebration.
"We've demonstrated that we've got depth in our squad, which speaks volumes about the quality of our players," Knauff shared on Sat.1. "Now we're aiming for the semifinals as well." He remained humble regarding his goal, stating, "I'm just happy that I could help the team today."
Woltemade Watch? It's doubtful Woltemade will take the field in the upcoming matches as the team advances in the competition. His absence has forced modifications in the team setup, leading many to question his future with the squad.
The game against England marked Germany's third victory in the 13th European Championship, played before 5,624 fans in Nitra. Coach Antonio Di Salvo made eleven changes to his starting lineup, having already secured a quarterfinal spot for the team. "Originally, I planned to maintain a core on the field. But after consultation with the players, who mentioned playing every three days is tough, it altered. One change leads to another," the 46-year-old explained the significant roster overhaul.
Notably, the reserve players from the victories against Slovenia (3:0) and the Czech Republic (4:2) stepped up, preparing for potential starting roles in the knockout duel against Italy on Sunday in Dunajska Streda. The rotation, in conjunction with a brief power outage towards the end of the first half, did not disrupt the German team's focus or determination to sweep the group stage with three wins.
England, with the potential for elimination if they suffered a heavy defeat, started strongly against Germany. However, the German team remained resilient, displaying the same poise, strength, and alert offense they did against Slovenia and the Czech Republic. Great pressing from the Germans led to Knauff casually tucking away his fourth goal in the U21 internationals. Di Salvo cheered, well pleased with his team's performance as they took a 2:0 lead.
England countered at halftime with three substitutions. The defending champions, boasting Arsenal striker Ethan Nwaneri, with a projected market value of 55 million euros, charged the second half with more energy and aggressiveness. England amped up the pressure and presented a few dangerous opportunities late in the game. However, a comeback reminiscent of the one the English U19 team achieved against Germany the previous day – when they came back from a 1:5 deficit to draw the game – was not to be.
England now faces Spain in the quarterfinals, who have won the title in this age group five times, just like Italy. The German team's unorthodox lineup combined with their impressive performance against formidable opponents has left many wondering whether they'll prove to be a tough opponent to face in the upcoming game.
"Despite Nick Woltemade's absence, who is a target for top European clubs like Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Atletico Madrid, the German U21 team 's impressive performance in the European Championships is a testament to their depth in quality players."
"With their unique formation and a star player like Ansgar Knauff contributing, the German U21 team is aiming for the semifinals in the European Championships, not just the quarterfinals, even though it seems doubtful that Woltemade will be involved in the upcoming matches."
