DFB juniors
Reception for U17 world champions – “tailwind for the European Championship year”
The German U17 footballers are expected back in Germany. photo
© Achmad Ibrahim/AP
Germany’s U17 world champions are expected back in Germany. Before the reception, President Neuendorf sees tailwind for the “EM year 2024”. Sports director Völler promotes smart decisions.
The World championship title for the German U17 national team should give German football new impetus.
“Three months ago we said that German football was in ruins and how bad the young talent was. Today we are talking about the fact that a new generation of great players is growing up,” said Bernd Neuendorf, President of the German Football Association. “This success is a great end to the year, which will give us at the DFB tailwind for the European Championship year 2024.” Neuendorf will welcome the team to the DFB campus today.
The U17 national team won the World Cup title for the first time at the weekend with a victory in the penalty shootout against France. After the World Cup triumph in Indonesia, coach Christian Wück appealed that the talents now have to be offered match practice at a high level. “Without good training, without good talent, the senior national team and the U21 will not be fed with young players,” said Wück.
Völler: Players need good career decisions
However, there is still a long way to go towards great professional careers or even into the senior national team, for which the home European Championships are coming up next year. “We have incredibly great talents in this age range that have now been rewarded,” said DFB sports director Rudi Völler in the Sport1 one-two. “The fact that they are now advised so that they can be used in the clubs is the basis of everything. That they don’t go to clubs where they are not used.”
Wück likes to cite FC Barcelona as an example of a large club that gives young players playing time. Marc Guiu (17) has played there once and Lamine Yamal (16) has played in the first division over ten times. “Confidence over a longer period of time is incredibly important. Giving them the opportunity to play professionally. Other nations – Spain is a good example – are showing us how to do this by using young players in the top three leagues. I would I would also like to see more success in Germany,” Wück told the German Press Agency during the tournament days.
Captain Darvich chooses to go abroad
By moving to Spain, U17 captain Noah Darvich is also hoping for the right path. He moved from SC Freiburg to FC Barcelona in the summer for an estimated 2.5 million euros. “From a player’s perspective, I can understand the step. Noah Darvich can speak Spanish. For him, the change is not quite as big as some people think,” Wück told dpa.
“From a German coach’s point of view, it’s a shame that we couldn’t keep such a top talent in Germany. We have to question ourselves as to why. I don’t know the communication between Noah and Freiburg, just the players’ point of view. Basically, it’s a shame when a top talent from a year goes abroad.”