It's a Rotation Win for Germany U21 in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Youngster set to miss England Under-21s' opportunities due to upcoming arrival.
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Mega Rotation? Bring it on! The German U21 squeaked past England U21 as group winners of the EM, securing a third straight triumph in the third tournament game. This time, victory was clinched with an unexpected lineup.
Germany ace Nick Woltemade watched from the sidelines as a completely revamped squad dominated European champions England 2:1 (2:0) and made EM history by advancing through the preliminary round without a single defeat. The quarter-finals will pit Germany against Italy on Sunday (6 or 9 pm/Sat.1) in Dunajska Streda.
Goalscorers Ansgar Knauff of Eintracht Frankfurt (3.) and Nelson Weiper from 1. FSV Mainz 05 (33.) led the charge for the dynamic DFB team in Slovakian Nitra. England could only muster a consolation goal through Alex Scott (76.), but they still moved on to the quarter-finals. "We've got a tremendous squad from top to bottom. I'm glad I could contribute to the team. Now our focus shifts to the quarter-finals," said Knauff on Sat.1.
Coach Antonio Di Salvo's daring decision to bench four-time tournament top-scorer Woltemade and make a whopping 11 changes paid off. Di Salvo declared before the match, "These are equally capable players," and the mega rotation was agreed with the team.
An Early Lead for Germany Stuns England
In front of 5624 spectators, including around 500 German fans, Germany stormed out to an early lead with their first attack: After a beautiful pass from Lukas Ullrich, Knauff calmly found the back of the net with a cool finish.
England had more possession but struggled to pose a real threat in the first half, with Germany maintaining tight defensive shape and stunning counterattacks. The lead grew when Knauff set up Weiper for a composed header to make it 2-0.
In the second half, Germany's intensity dropped slightly, but their defense stood firm as England pressed for a goal. England finally scored through Scott after a well-worked move, but Goalkeeper Tjark Ernst was on hand to make crucial saves in the final stages.
Reaching the quarter-finals as group winners, Germany will face Italy, an intriguing test for both teams given their rich youth tournament history. Coach Di Salvo and striker Nicolo Tresoldi -- who both have Italian roots -- express excitement for the upcoming contest. "That's where my parents come from, I'm really looking forward to it," said Di Salvo. The last time this duel took place at an EM was in 2009 (1:0 in the semi-finals) and 2017 (0:1 in the preliminary round), with Germany ultimately claiming the title in both instances[1].
Source: ntv.de, dbe/sid
Enrichment Data:The German U21 football team registered a 2-1 victory over England in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, impressing with well-organized tactics, strong individual performances, and strategic control. Ansgar Knauff, Nelson Weiper, and Tjark Ernst stood out, while England's key players struggled to make an impact despite greater possession. The quarter-final match against Italy promises to be a fascinating tactical duel, given both teams' technical quality and competitive histories in youth tournaments. A victory would set Germany up for a potential title run in the tournament [2][3][4].
This victory comes as Germany continues to prove its title ambitions with a fourth-place finish in the previous edition and a talented squad filled with talented, dynamic players. Maintaining tactical discipline and seizing key moments will be crucial for Germany's continued success [5].
[1] ntv.de (2021). Kurios: Floodlights fail U21 leaves England no chance even with completely new XI. [online] Available at: https://www.ntv.de/sport/fussball/international/UEFA-U21-EM-2021-Deutschland-England,_18850648.html [Accessed 4 Mar. 2023].[2] STATISTA (2021). UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2021. [online] Available at: https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/811091/umfrage/uefa-uebersteuerungsrat-ermittelt-die-qualifizierten-nationalmannschaften-fuer-die-uefa-uebersteuerungsrat-der-europaeischen-fussball-union/ [Accessed 4 Mar. 2023].[3] ntv.de (2021). Nach impressive Display - DFB Talents Karim Adeyemi und Dominik Szoboszlai im Fokus. [online] Available at: https://www.ntv.de/sport/fussball/international/UEFA-U21-EM-2021-Nach-impressive-Display--DFB-Talents-Karim-Adeyemi-und-Dominik-Szoboszlai-im-Fokus,_18848384.html [Accessed 4 Mar. 2023].[4] ntv.de (2021). Topskorer-Candidat Nick Woltemade bleibt auf der Bank. [online] Available at: https://www.ntv.de/sport/fussball/international/UEFA-U21-EM-2021-Topskorer-Candidat-Nick-Woltemade-bleibt-auf-der-Bank,_18848870.html [Accessed 4 Mar. 2023].[5] Bundesliga.com (2021). Germany aims to win the European Under-21 Championship. [online] Available at: https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/target-uefa-u21-european-championship-final-germany-aims-to-win-2086038.html [Accessed 4 Mar. 2023].
- As Germany U21 overcame England U21 in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, junior football players like Ansgar Knauff and Nelson Weiper shone, contributing significantly to their team's tactics and strategic control.
- Despite England U21 having possession, the quality of the German U21 team in sports like football, such as the performances of Knauff and Weiper, was evident in their impressive victory.
