News (engl.)

In little over three months, the U21 EUROs will get underway in Slovakia. Head coach Antonio Di Salvo has announced his squad for the team’s first games of 2025, which will also serve as preparation for the tournament. First, Germany U21 will face Slovakia U21 in Trnava on Friday, 21st March (18:00 CET). They will then host Spain U21 at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor in Darmstadt on 25th March (20:30 CET).

“With our upcoming fixtures against Slovakia and Spain, we want to start shifting our focus to the EUROs. We want to get the experience of playing in Slovakia ahead of our first match in June, after which we’re looking forward to hosting a tough opponent in the form of Spain in Darmstadt,” said Di Salvo. “We will use this time to prepare the team for the upcoming EUROs and to continue our development. These two games will help us to do so. Like we did against France most recently, we will also be able to test ourselves against a top European side in the form of Spain. It’s been four months since our last games and I’m looking forward to being another step closer to the upcoming European Championship.”

Jander and Ullrich called up for the first time

Di Salvo has called up both Caspar Jander (1. FC Nürnberg) and Lukas Ullrich (Borussia Mönchengladbach) for the first time. “They’ve both earned this through their consistently strong performances for their respective clubs,” the head coach said. Di Salvo was able able to welcome Jamie Siebert (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Joshua Quarshie (SpVgg Greuther Fürth) and Nelson Weiper (1. FSV Mainz 05) back to the squad.

Already, the selection process has been influenced not only by the U21 EUROs, but also by this summer’s Club World Cup. “It’s well-known that we’re in a tricky situation right now, with the expanded format of the Club World Cup taking place for the first time this summer. This affects the clubs, as well as the players and the U21 national team. There are plenty of moving parts and we have a good relationship with all those involved as we try to make good decisions that keep everyone happy. It’s important to make compromises, which we have done with players such as Jonas Urbig, Paul Wanner and Maximilian Beier in this current window,” he explained.

As a result, Beier and Tom Bischof haven’t been called up for the upcoming games. Merlin Röhl (SC Freiburg) and Aljoscha Kemlein (Union Berlin) are both unavailable for selection due to injury, as is Hendry Blank (RB Leipzig). Both Blank and teammate Leandro Morgalla could also be in action during the Club World Cup later this summer.

Di Salvo: “It’s about getting the year off to a good start ahead off the EUROs”

“Regardless of all these factors, we have been able to put together a strong team. Now, it’s about getting the year off to a good start ahead off the EUROs. After successfully qualifying and recording some strong results during the last international break in November, we want to continue to build our confidence and start gradually building up towards the U21 EUROs in Slovakia in June,” Di Salvo said.

The U21 EUROs will take place from 11th to 28th June in Slovakia. Germany have been placed in Group B, where they will come up against Slovenia (Thursday, 12th June), Czechia (Sunday, 15th June) and England (Wednesday, 18th June). The top two sides in each group will advance to the quarter-finals.