News (engl.)

A new-look Germany U21 side recorded a 2-0 victory in Elbasan against EURO 2027 co-hosts Albania. Debutant Ilyas Ansah opened the scoring shortly after the restart (48’) in front of 2,234 supporters, before another new face Dzenan Pejcinovic doubled the lead just four minutes later (52’).

Four debutants in Di Salvo’s starting XI

Head coach Antonio Di Salvo named four debutants in his starting line-up. Goalkeeper Dennis Seimen was joined by centre-backs Finn Jeltsch and Joshua Quarshie, as well as attacking midfielder Said El Mala. Elias Baum and Lukas Ullrich took up the full-back roles, while Umut Tohumcu, captain Aljoscha Kemlein and Brajan Gruda filled the midfield. Nelson Weiper and Nicolo Tresoldi started up front.

The game took a while to get going, with both sides struggling to find any rhythm. Albania registered the only two efforts of note in the opening stages, though neither troubled Seimen. Germany found it hard to break down a deep-lying home side and also had to contend with a bobbly pitch that made fluid attacking play difficult.

Two debut goals after the break

Germany created their first real opening in the 33rd minute when Weiper headed over the bar. He threatened again soon after with a low ball from the right, but Albanian keeper Aaron Jukaj was alert to cut it out (35’). The game began to open up as Tresoldi’s volley was well saved by Jukaj (36’), while Etnik Brruti forced Seimen into action for the first time with a free-kick that the keeper tipped over (39’). Tresoldi had the final chance of the half in stoppage time but couldn’t beat the keeper (45+3’).

As announced pre-match, Di Salvo made wholesale changes at the break – with only Tohumcu remaining from the first half. Mio Backhaus replaced Seimen in goal, with Leandro Morgalla, Hendry Blank, Tom Rothe and Linus Gechter forming a new back four. Tohumcu was joined in midfield by Noel Aseko, Muhammed Damar and Aaron Zehnter, while Pejcinovic and Ansah led the line.

It took Ansah just three minutes to make his mark, firing home from 15 metres to put Germany in front (48’). Pejcinovic followed suit shortly after, latching onto a clever through ball from Zehnter to make it 2-0 (52’).

Pejcinovic hits the post

Albania refused to fold, with Burak Alili curling a shot just past the top corner from the right-hand side (61’), and Rrok Toma went close with a header (66’) as the hosts enjoyed a good spell.

Germany soon regained control and nearly added a third, but Pejcinovic’s long-range strike came back off the post (78’).