News (engl.)

The Germany U21s have booked their place at the 2027 European U21 Championship in Albania and Serbia. Antonio Di Salvo’s side beat Georgia 2-0 in Bielefeld in their final Group F qualifier, with Dženan Pejčinović scoring both goals. Germany finished on 27 points from ten matches, with 32 goals scored and just five conceded, and qualified directly for the finals as one of the nine group winners thanks to their superior head-to-head record over Greece.

A crowd of 20,049 at the Schüco-Arena – the biggest attendance for a Germany U21 game in more than 20 years – saw a lively opening in Bielefeld. Germany quickly took control against a compact Georgia side that were initially content to sit back and wait for opportunities on the break, although both teams threatened in the early stages. Captain Nicolò Tresoldi picked out Noah Darvich inside the Georgia penalty area in the fourth minute, but his first touch got away from him. Georgia immediately broke down the other end, where their forward cut in from the left before firing wide.

Pejčinović opens the scoring

The next chance fell to Germany after they won the ball back high up the pitch. Darvich received possession centrally and took aim from just over 20 yards, with his effort taking a decisive deflection off Dženan Pejčinović on its way into the net to make it 1-0 (10’). Di Salvo’s side were firmly on top after taking the lead and began to create chances with increasing regularity. Paris Brunner curled an effort narrowly wide of the far post in the 17th minute, while Germany continued to press high and gave Georgia very little at the other end.

The visitors enjoyed their first sustained spell of possession after around 35 minutes, but were unable to turn it into any meaningful attacking threat. Germany then went close again following an Elias Baum corner, with the ball eventually dropping to Tresoldi inside the area. The striker was denied at close range by Georgia goalkeeper Luka Beruashvili, who blocked the effort with his chest (41’), before Albanian referee Florian Lata brought the first half to a close.

Both teams emerged unchanged after the break and Germany immediately picked up where they had left off, playing with plenty of intensity and attacking intent. They thought they had doubled their lead from a corner in the 48th minute, but Joshua Quarshie’s header was ruled out for a foul in the build-up. Georgia responded with a quick attack of their own, only for Deisadze to drag his low effort wide. Another Baum corner caused problems in the 55th minute, with the ball eventually falling to Darvich just a few yards out, although he was unable to react quickly enough. Pejčinović then had another chance three minutes later, but sent his effort over the bar (58’).

Pejčinović makes sure

Georgia threatened from a low corner at the other end when Lordkipanidze attempted an inventive backheel, but Mio Backhaus was alert to make the save (59’). The game remained open and was increasingly played around the two penalty areas. Di Salvo made his first change in the 65th minute, with Arijon Ibrahimović replacing Brunner. The substitute was involved almost immediately. After a slick move, Pejčinović flicked the ball into Ibrahimović’s path with his heel, but his attempted lob missed the target (67’).

Germany did not have to wait much longer for their second. Georgia gave the ball away while trying to play out from the back and Darvich won possession before finding Tresoldi. The captain pulled the ball back from the right for Pejčinović, who turned and finished to make it 2-0 (69’).

Germany looked more relaxed after the second goal and continued to create opportunities. Leandro Morgalla and Wael Mohya replaced Baum and Darvich in the 82nd minute, before Tom Rothe and Mert Kömür came on for Lukas Ullrich and match-winner Pejčinović five minutes later. Di Salvo’s men saw out the closing stages comfortably, with neither side able to add to the score. The 2-0 win confirmed the Germany U21s as Group F winners and secured their place at the 2027 European Championship in Albania and Serbia.