U19s qualify for the World Cup in penalty shootout thriller

Germany U19s pulled off a dramatic victory in the fifth placed play-off against the Netherlands during the home European U19 Championship to achieve their minimum aim of World Cup qualification. Guido Streichsbier’s team won 5-4 on penalties, following an interesting match that ended 3-3 after extra-time. The victory means that the DFB U19s secured fifth place in the European U19 Championship and qualify for the 2017 U20 World Cup in South Korea (20th May until 11th June).

The 8592 spectators in the Hardwaldstadion in Sandhausen were watching what looked like a sure win for the highly impressive Germans after Philipp Ochs’ fourth goal of the tournament. However, Abdelhak Nouri and Dennis van der Heijden shocked all in attendance by turning the match and putting the Netherlands ahead in the closing stages. Guido Streichsbier’s side were looking down the barrel of a defeat, but Suat Serdar found an equaliser through a header in the third minute of added time to send the game to extra time.

Streichsbier: “I am unbelievably proud of the lads”

Maximillian Mittelstädt’s amazing ball lead to Marvin Mehlem giving Germany the lead again in the 6th minute of extra time but the match was far from over. Sam Lammers leveled again for the Dutch outfit in the 111th minute and the game went to penalties. Benjamin Henrichs converted the twelfth penalty of the shoot out to secure the DFB U19s World Cup qualification.

“I am unbelievably proud of the lads,” said Streichsbier. “We looked down and out but the boys did amazingly well. It would have been madness for us to lose today; we had so many chances. I told the boys, if we survive this we will have a massive year ahead of us. It was a brilliant advertisement for youth football.”

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Germany U19s pulled off a dramatic victory in the fifth placed play-off against the Netherlands during the home European U19 Championship to achieve their minimum aim of World Cup qualification. Guido Streichsbier’s team won 5-4 on penalties, following an interesting match that ended 3-3 after extra-time. The victory means that the DFB U19s secured fifth place in the European U19 Championship and qualify for the 2017 U20 World Cup in South Korea (20th May until 11th June).

The 8592 spectators in the Hardwaldstadion in Sandhausen were watching what looked like a sure win for the highly impressive Germans after Philipp Ochs’ fourth goal of the tournament. However, Abdelhak Nouri and Dennis van der Heijden shocked all in attendance by turning the match and putting the Netherlands ahead in the closing stages. Guido Streichsbier’s side were looking down the barrel of a defeat, but Suat Serdar found an equaliser through a header in the third minute of added time to send the game to extra time.

Streichsbier: “I am unbelievably proud of the lads”

Maximillian Mittelstädt’s amazing ball lead to Marvin Mehlem giving Germany the lead again in the 6th minute of extra time but the match was far from over. Sam Lammers leveled again for the Dutch outfit in the 111th minute and the game went to penalties. Benjamin Henrichs converted the twelfth penalty of the shoot out to secure the DFB U19s World Cup qualification.

“I am unbelievably proud of the lads,” said Streichsbier. “We looked down and out but the boys did amazingly well. It would have been madness for us to lose today; we had so many chances. I told the boys, if we survive this we will have a massive year ahead of us. It was a brilliant advertisement for youth football.”