U 21-EC: Germany celebrate 2-1 victory against Switzerland

Hosts Germany started with a convincing 2-1 (1-0) victory in the group stage B of the European Under-21 Championship at the Bruchwegstadion in Mainz in front of 12.240 spectators. Benjamin Auer (FSV Mainz 05) scored the game‘s opening goal (21. min.) by heading in a cross by Andreas Görlitz (TSV 1860 München).

In the second period the German squad advanced to 2-0. Thomas Hitzlsperger (Aston Villa / 63. min.) scored with a shot from just inside the penalty area. A shot by Christian Tiffert (VfB Stuttgart) hit the post only ten minutes later (73. min). Substitute David Degen halved the deficit when he smashed the ball into an empty net after German goalkeeper Tim Wiese (1. FC Kaiserslautern) blocked a shot by Stephan Lichtsteiner with 15 minutes remaining.

German headcoach Ulli Stielike was relieved after the match: „I am happy that we were able to win the first game. Switzerland showed themselves to be an uncomfortable opponent, just as we expected. After the Swiss squad halved the deficit my team was apparently missing strength. But eventually we are happy about the three points.“

German squad against Sweden on Sunday

On Sunday, May 30, Germany play against Sweden in Mannheim (18.15h, live on Sat.1). In their final game of the group stage the German squad faces Portugal in Mainz on Wednesday, June 2, (18.00h, live on Sat.1). „I consider Portugal to be the favourite in our group“, German coach Ulli Stielike admitted. „But I also have confidence in my team not only because we are hosting the tournament.“

Only the top two in each group go through to the semi-finals, which will be held cross-over on Saturday, June 5, in Oberhausen (18.45h) and Bochum (20.45h). The two winners play the final on Tuesday, June 8, in Bochum (20.45h). The two losing teams face in Oberhausen on the same day (18.15h) in order to play the match for the third place. The finals determine the three European teams who accompany hosts Greece at this year's Athens Olympics soccer tournament. The two finalists and the winners of the match for third place qualify.

„The team is strong enough to make our dream of the Olympics come true“, Stielike said. Rudi Völler, headcoach of the German national team, additionally motivated the players of the Under-21 team. After the European Under-21 Championship he will announce one player of the Under-21 team who joins the German national team for the UEFA European Championship in Portugal (June 12 to July 4).

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[bild1]Hosts Germany started with a convincing 2-1 (1-0) victory in the group stage B of the European Under-21 Championship at the Bruchwegstadion in Mainz in front of 12.240 spectators. Benjamin Auer (FSV Mainz 05) scored the game‘s opening goal (21. min.) by heading in a cross by Andreas Görlitz (TSV 1860 München).



In the second period the German squad advanced to 2-0. Thomas Hitzlsperger (Aston Villa / 63. min.) scored with a shot from just inside the penalty area. A shot by Christian Tiffert (VfB Stuttgart) hit the post only ten minutes later (73. min). Substitute David Degen halved the deficit when he smashed the ball into an empty net after German goalkeeper Tim Wiese (1. FC Kaiserslautern) blocked a shot by Stephan Lichtsteiner with 15 minutes remaining.



German headcoach Ulli Stielike was relieved after the match: „I am happy that we were able to win the first game. Switzerland showed themselves to be an uncomfortable opponent, just as we expected. After the Swiss squad halved the deficit my team was apparently missing strength. But eventually we are happy about the three points.“



German squad against Sweden on Sunday



On Sunday, May 30, Germany play against Sweden in Mannheim (18.15h, live on Sat.1). In their final game of the group stage the German squad faces Portugal in Mainz on Wednesday, June 2, (18.00h, live on Sat.1). „I consider Portugal to be the favourite in our group“, German coach Ulli Stielike admitted. „But I also have confidence in my team not only because we are hosting the tournament.“



Only the top two in each group go through to the semi-finals, which will be held cross-over on Saturday, June 5, in Oberhausen (18.45h) and Bochum (20.45h). The two winners play the final on Tuesday, June 8, in Bochum (20.45h). The two losing teams face in Oberhausen on the same day (18.15h) in order to play the match for the third place. The finals determine the three European teams who accompany hosts Greece at this year's Athens Olympics soccer tournament. The two finalists and the winners of the match for third place qualify.



„The team is strong enough to make our dream of the Olympics come true“, Stielike said. Rudi Völler, headcoach of the German national team, additionally motivated the players of the Under-21 team. After the European Under-21 Championship he will announce one player of the Under-21 team who joins the German national team for the UEFA European Championship in Portugal (June 12 to July 4).