News (engl.)

Germany U21 were defeated in the final of the EUROs in Slovakia. In front of 19,153 spectators in Bratislava, head coach Antonio Di Salvo’s side lost 3-2 in extra time to England, who lifted the trophy for a fourth time.

“I have to give credit to the team, because they kept on believing until the end. We didn’t have that little bit of luck on our side today,” said Di Salvo. “Paul Nebel hit the bar in the 90th minute and Merlin Röhl hit the bar in the 120th minute. The football gods weren’t with us today.”

Di Salvo again picked Noah Atubolu in goal, while, in defence, Tim Oermann came in for the injured Max Rosenfelder, and played alongside Bright Arrey-Mbi at centre-back. Nathaniel Brown and Nnamdi Collins were the full-backs. Captain Eric Martel, Rocco Reitz and Paul Nebel pulled the strings in midfield. Brajan Gruda, Nelson Weiper and Nick Woltemade made up the front three.

England take an early lead

It was a low-key first few minutes, but then England stunned Germany with their first good opportunity. Omari Hutchinson was played through in the penalty area and let fly. Atubolu made the save initially, but the ball eventually landed at the feet of Harvey Elliott, who made no mistake in netting the opener (5’). Germany needed a few minutes to regroup. Reitz then threatened England’s goal with a free kick (9’). However, it was the Three Lions who had the next chance of the game, when nobody could get a touch on James McAtee’s fizzed cross into the box (14’).

After around the 15-minute mark, Germany were more able to play their way into the opponent’s penalty area, but they still struggled to create clearcut opportunities. Conversely, England remained dangerous on the counter. The German defence dealt with this at first, but England continued to dominate in terms of chances and found a second goal in the 25th minute. McAtee played the ball to Hutchinson on the left of the area, and the latter’s shot beat Atubolu.

Germany next came close after a cross from deep, which Weiper headed a few metres over the bar (33’). Not long after, Weiper was unable to capitalise on a mistake from England goalkeeper James Beadle. Atubolu then made a crucial save from McAtee at the other end (40’). Three minutes of injury time were indicated, and Germany only needed one of these to get themselves back in the game. Nebel skipped past an opponent before crossing into the box. Weiper climbed highest to nod the ball into the corner (45+1’).

Nebel with the equaliser

Germany came out for the second half improved, as they pushed England deeper and won the ball back quicker. Weiper’s shot (49’) was blocked, while Brown’s cross almost nestled in the far corner (50’). The Three Lions continued to play on the counterattack. After one of these counters, McAtee fired narrowly wide of the post (52’). Germany could attack quickly themselves, however. Gruda ran through on the left and was denied by Beadle from a tight angle (57’).

Germany were beginning to control the game more and more. Reitz’s corner flew past all of the players in the six-yard box, but instead fell to Nebel in space on the other side of the pitch. The Mainz midfielder tried a curling effort and swept the ball into the corner to equalise (61’). The game settled down somewhat afterwards, and fouls were quickly being called after players won the ball back. Di Salvo took this opportunity to make his first change, as Ansgar Knauff came on for Gruda (73’).

Ahead of the final 10 minutes of normal time, Di Salvo sent on Merlin Röhl for Weiper (80’). The first good opportunity of the last 15 fell to Brooke Norton-Cuffy, but Atubolu got down to make the save (81’). Four minutes later, Nebel had everyone at the stadium on the edge of their seats when his shot from around 20 yards out went just centimetres wide of goal. Di Salvo was then forced into making another substitution when Brown was unable to continue. Lukas Ullrich replaced him (86’). As the match ticked into injury time, Germany tried to cause chaos in the England penalty area, but the final pass was just missing on multiple occasions. Di Salvo’s team did, however, almost find a winner in the third minute of added time. Reitz dribbled forward from the edge of the box and was challenged just before pulling the trigger. The loose ball fell to Nebel behind him, but his shot thundered against the woodwork.

England net winner early in extra time

Just as they had in the first half of normal time, England scored early on in the extra period. Jonathan Rowe headed a cross into the far corner to put the Three Lions in front once again (92’). Germany looked to their bench for attacking reinforcements and brought on Nicolò Tresoldi for Martel (96’). They began to push England further into their own half, but initially failed to produce any dangerous efforts on goal. Reitz dribbled into space, but his early shot went well wide (105+1’).

At half time in extra time, Di Salvo made his fifth change by sending on Paul Wanner for Oermann (106’). Five minutes later, Tresoldi won a header under pressure from a defender, but could not find the net. Germany threw everything at it going forward and had another shooting chance through Reitz (118’), but he struck it wide of goal. There was to be one last golden opportunity. Röhl hammered the ball against the bar as Germany struck the woodwork once again (120+1’).