News (engl.)

The Germany U21 national team has reached the final of the European Championship in Slovakia after head coach Antonio Di Salvo’s team beat France 3-0 in the semi-final. Nelson Weiper opened the scoring early on (8’) before Nick Woltemade quickly followed up to double his side’s advantage (14’). Brajan Gruda rounded out proceedings to add some gloss to the score line (90’+3). Germany face England for the crown on Saturday (kick-off 21:00 CEST) following the Young Lions’ 2-1 semi-final victory over the Netherlands.

"I’m very relieved and very proud. This team always leaves their hearts out on that pitch,” said Di Salvo. “Every final you play, you want to win. We know it’s going to be tough, but we can head into the contest full of confidence.”

At the Kosice Football Arena, Di Salvo deployed a back four consisting of central defenders Bright Akwo Arrey-Mbi and Max Rosenfelder and full-backs Nathaniel Brown and Nnamdi Collins. In midfield, captain Eric Martel, Rocco Reitz and Paul Nebel operated behind the attacking trio of Ansgar Knauff, Weiper and Woltemade.

Quick-fire early double through Weiper and Woltemade

After a brief feeling-out period, Germany struck with their first opportunity. After Reitz won the ball high up the pitch, Woltemade drove upfield and crossed for Nebel. He could only manage to hit the crossbar, but Weiper turned home on the rebound. Bad news followed shortly afterwards as Rosenfelder was forced off due to injury, replaced by Tim Oermann (11’).

The young Germans appeared unaffected by that setback, however and the substitute was involved right away in the build-up for the goal to make it 2-0. Oermann’s long ball was not dealt with by Soungoutou Magassa, allowing Weiper to feed Woltemade and he scored at the second time of asking. France sought an immediate response, but Djaoui Cissé (17’) and Wilson Odobert (19’) were unable to trouble Atubolu with their attempts.

While France had more of the possession, Germany’s U21s defended resolutely and looked to hit in transition. The first real threat to the German goal arrived in the 37th minute, when Mathys Tel stretched to latch onto the end of a cross and apply the touch for a goal back; however, he missed the ball by a matter of inches.

Atubolu impresses with numerous saves

France emerged for the second period full of vigour and after just 15 seconds, Atubolu had to make a quick reaction save from point-blank range to deny the newly substituted Thierno Barry (46’). At the other end, Nebel’s shot was blocked after fine link-up play (47’) before Knauff’s attempted lay-off after a swift counter-attack just about had a French leg steer it clear inside the penalty area (54’).

Not long after, Woltemade dribbled his way through the defence, but Weiper’s subsequent shot was directed high over the bar (59’). Weiper’s next chance followed a cutback from Brown, but this time France captain Quentin Merlin saved the day for his stranded keeper (66’). France pretty much then went down the other end, and Atubolu was forced into another brilliant save by Barry’s header from five yards out (68’).

Gruda seals the deal

Di Salvo then made a double switch, bringing on Gruda and Merlin Röhl for Weiper and Knauff (71’). Gruda almost set up the third goal right away, but Woltemade headed his eye-catching outside-of-the-foot cross just wide of the post (74’). The next opportunity did not materialise either, as Nebel was halted in a three-on-three situation (76’).

Germany U21 now had the contest much more under control, keeping France well away from their own net for the most part. Another two changes shortly followed as Paul Wanner and Jamil Siebert entered the fray for Nebel and Reitz (88’). Although Barry came even closer to scoring in stoppage time when he hit the post after latching onto a corner, it was Gruda who bagged the game’s final goal, tapping in when assisted superbly by Wanner. With that, Germany’s 3-0 victory was rubber-stamped, confirming their spot in Saturday’s European U21 Championship final against England (kick-off 21:00 CEST).