Germany's Young Guns Thrash England, Aim for Quarter-final Glory Against Italy
Young prospect hampers England's Under-21 team prospects.
In a stunning display, Germany's U21 squad left England drenched, having secured a comprehensive 2-1 win. This triumph, sealing the top spot in Group B of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025, places the German squad on a collision course with Italy in the quarter-finals.
A New-Look German Lineup Mesmerizes the Crowd
In front of 5,624 spectators, including approximately 500 German supporters, Germany set the tone early. After just three minutes, Ansgar Knauff (Eintracht Frankfurt winger) etched his name on the scoreboard with a delightful finish from a looping pass by Lukas Ullrich. "I have complete trust in this team, comprising equally talented players," proclaimed coach Antonio Di Salvo prior to the encounter. His faith in the mega-rotation strategy paid off.
With the advantage in hand, Germany ceded possession to England, despite maintaining a cohesive defensive unit. A fleeting lapse by Jamil Siebert presented England with a chance, but Jonathan Rowe's effort careened off the far post (21 minutes). Defiantly, Germany prolonged their lead. Following a cross from Knauff, Nelson Weiper (Mainz forward) screamed the ball home for his first goal in the U21 jersey.
England Struggles to Find Their Groove
With the second-half kick-off, England mounted a comeback attempt, albeit fruitlessly. Liverpool's prodigious forward Harvey Elliott failed to make an impact on the contest. Though England enjoyed a measure of possession in the latter stages, Germany's steadfast defense never buckled. The breakthrough came for England 14 minutes from time when Alex Scott tapped in from a cross by Omari Hutchinson, yet the damage had been done.
In the game's final phases, Hertha goalkeeper Tjark Ernst cemented Germany's success.
Italy Awaits in the Quarter-finals
Germany, as group winners, will face Italy in the quarter-finals. Such a clash holds special significance for both Di Salvo and striker Nicolo Tresoldi, whose heritage hails from Italy. "This encounter promises excitement, as it's where my parents originate," expressed an effusive Di Salvo. Germany and Italy have only competed in this stage of the tournament twice before, neither match culminating in victory for England. Fatefully, both past encounters ended in Germany claiming the championship in 2009 (1-0 semi-finals) and 2017 (0-1 group stage).
Sources: ntv.de, dbe/sid
Enrichment Data:Quarter-final Opponent: England U21, although defeated, managed to qualify for the quarter-finals and will square off against Spain, who are pre-tournament favorites and whom England had defeated in the final two years ago. The match will take place in Trnava[2].
Scoring Players for Germany: - Ansgar Knauff (Eintracht Frankfurt winger) opened the scoring within the first three minutes with a terrific finish from a lofted pass by Lukas Ullrich[2][4]. - Nelson Weiper (Mainz forward) scored the second goal with a superb header at the 33rd minute[2][4].
England's sole goal came from Alex Scott, who tapped in from a cross by Omari Hutchinson 14 minutes from time, yet it was not enough to avoid defeat[2].
Comments from Germany’s Coach Antonio Di Salvo: Di Salvo made 11 changes to the starting lineup since Germany had already secured advancement to the quarter-finals before the match. His team dominated the game, scoring early and maintaining the lead. Germany's first-half performance against England was impeccable, taking a 2-0 lead into the break[4].
The victorious German U21 squad, fresh from their 2-1 win against England in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025, have their sights set on the quarter-finals and a potential showdown with Italy. With Germany's stellar performance in Group B, anchored by standout players like Ansgar Knauff and Nelson Weiper, they are poised to make a strong run in the champions-league of European football.
