News (engl.)

The Germany U21 national team won the second match of their European Championship campaign in Slovakia to book a place in the quarter-finals of the competition. Head coach Antonio Di Salvo’s side emerged 4-2 victors when faced with Czechia in front of 7,870 fans in Dunajska Streda. Nicolo Tresoldi, Paul Nebel, Nick Woltemade and Eric Martel bagged the goals for Germany, while the group’s other contest saw England and Slovenia play out a goalless draw. Therefore, Germany sit top of the pile as they go into their clash with reigning champions England on Wednesday (21:00 CEST).

“I am obviously really happy and very proud of the team. Our primary target was to secure early qualification by getting to six points,” explained Di Salvo. “We had positive periods in which we made our opponents run, also demonstrating an effective press and repeatedly creating scoring opportunities as a result. What bothers me is that we allowed Czechia back into the game. However, we deserved the win when all was said and done today.”

“We’re on the right track so can head into the final group game with confidence. I think the whole team delivered a good performance, but we’re annoyed about the two we conceded,” reported Paul Nebel. Nicolo Tresoldi, who bagged the contest’s go-ahead goal, emphasised: “We gave an exemplary showing for 60 minutes and just need to carry on in that fashion.”

Two-up at half-time

Antonio Di Salvo opted for the same line-up that started the 3-0 win over Slovenia to kick off Germany’s tournament. Max Rosenfelder and Bright Akwo Arrey-Mbi formed the centre-back pairing in front of goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, while Frankfurt’s Pharrel Nnamdi Collins and Nathaniel Brown were deployed at full-back. Captain Eric Martel and Rocco Reitz operated in defensive midfield as Brajan Gruda and Paul Nebel began in the wide offensive positions. Nick Woltemade played in a central attacking birth, in behind Nicolo Tresoldi.

Germany exuberated dominance from the off and created the first opportunity early on. After a one-two with Woltemade, Nebel narrowly missed the target (3’). Nebel then also received the game’s second (14’). Czechia withstood the pressure before having the best chance of the game up until that point in the 32nd minute as Patrik Vydra tried his luck from range, forcing Atubolu to make a strong save to keep the ball from finding the top left-hand corner.

Germany took the lead shortly afterwards, however. Tresoldi was the player on hand the simply guide the ball over the line with his left foot from close range after a low cross from Collins (34’). Shortly after that, Woltemade then latched onto Reitz’s through ball, before driving towards goal and laying off for the onrushing Nebel, who slotted home for 2-0 (41’). Gruda almost made it 3-0 right before half-time, but his fierce strike from the right-hand side of the penalty area only found the near upright (45’+1).

Action-packed second period

In the 53rd minute, Reitz delivered a deep cross into the Czechia box, where Woltemade rose above two opponents to head in Germany’s third. “I’ve done a lot of work on heading in training, so goals like the one to make it 3-0 are what grant me the most satisfaction,” revealed the sharpshooter, who took his tally for the tournament to four. With regard to that which lies ahead, Woltemade explained: “Being in the quarter-finals provides us with a great feeling and is something we can be proud of right now. We have the potential to go a long way but are also aware that we cannot take our foot off the gas. Playing every three days is properly tough.”

Gruda sent another forceful effort towards goal on 58 minutes and Czechia goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek could only parry the ball back into the danger area. Woltemade left the follow-up shot to Germany captain Martel, who netted from six yards to make it 4-0.

Czechia then scored with their first chance of the second half. Martin Suchomel delivered a ball from the left flank across the face of the Germany goal where Arrey-Mbi was unlucky to divert into his own net (60’). Czechia suddenly had hope. A free-kick from range created further concern for Germany, since Rosenfelder was unable to clear the ball fully and it ended up with Karel Spacil. He demonstrated great technique to steer his attempt home off the inside of the right-hand post (66’). “We panicked somewhat unnecessarily,” analysed captain Erik Martel.

At this stage, head coach Di Salvo looked to provide some calm to proceedings as he brought on Nelson Weiper, Lukas Ullrich and Ansgar Knauff for Tresoldi, Brown and Gruda. Collins subsequently found himself with the chance to decide the game in the 81st minute. However, the full-back failed to beat Hornicek after Woltemade’s dinked pass. In the closing stages, Jamil Siebert and Caspar Jander came on for Nebel and Reitz to help make sure of the 4-2 victory.

Merely a singular point is required by the young Germans in their final group game with England as they look to clinch top spot. Di Salvo will have to do without Max Rosenfelder for the contest after the Freiburg defender received his second yellow card of the tournament in the closing stages against Czechia.