DFB juniors
U21 wants to arouse anticipation for home EM
In the midst of the crisis in the national team, the U21 start in the European Championship. She wants to repeat the title coup from 2021 and ensure football anticipation for the home European Championship. The team is not the top favourite.
With full commitment, Angelo Stiller and Co. dueled at the table tennis table, a few floors above the U21 team cheered and smirked. The bad mood of the national team did not dampen the anticipation of their own European Championships in the team hotel of the German U21 footballers around coach Antonio Di Salvo.
After the sobering performances of Hansi Flick’s team, the next generation should now ensure football joy in Germany almost a year before the start of the home European Championship. “If you win, coaches, players and spectators are happy,” said super talent Youssoufa Moukoko from Borussia Dortmund.
EM start against Israel
Before the start of the U21 European Championship on Thursday (6:00 p.m. CEST/Sat.1) against Israel, the striker confidently announced his goal of winning the third title in seven years. “We’re in a better position than two years ago,” said the 18-year-old. At that time, the U21s won under Di Salvo’s predecessor Stefan Kuntz and inspired with passion, emotions and team spirit. With the virtues that many fans of the senior national team are missing. The DFB offspring can also increase their own chance of a place at the home European Championship.
As the minimum goal for the European Championships by July 8 in Georgia and Romania, Di Salvo names the Olympic ticket, which the three best teams buy alongside the hosts France. The young footballers are very relaxed about the increased expectations after the successful Kuntz era with three final appearances in a row. “Of course it’s cool when you’re in the spotlight and the whole nation supports you,” said defender Yann Aurel Bisseck. The 22-year-old from Aarhus GF in Denmark has been named the new captain by Di Salvo. “You want to do something for the nation.”
The conditions are anything but ideal. In Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Malick Thiaw, Di Salvo has to do without three players who are part of Flick’s A squad. There are also short-term injuries to regular players like Jonathan Burkardt, Jordan Beyer and Ansgar Knauff. “At the end of the day, we’re doing everything we can for the success of the senior team,” said Di Salvo of Thiaw’s absence. In Moukoko, Josha Vagnoman and Kevin Schade he has at least three professionals with national team experience.
Völler travels to the U21 European Championship
However, the defending champion is not going into the tournament as the top favourite. Teams like France or England – after Israel and the Czech Republic (June 25) last German group opponents on June 28 – are considered to be significantly better. “The squad is good enough that we can play a decent and good role,” said DFB sporting director Rudi Völler, who wants to travel to the tournament in Georgia and Romania himself. The Germans are not interested in the discussion about the higher market values of other teams anyway. Moukoko said: “It doesn’t count for me. It counts who has more will and more ambition.”
Mentality, team spirit, cohesion – that’s what made the U21s strong under Kuntz, and Di Salvo is also counting on that. “I think that can be a key again to get even better,” he said. For the 44-year-old, the tournament is the first major test after years as an assistant coach under Kuntz. “I believe that Toni is able to awaken this team spirit,” praised Kuntz, who is still in contact with Di Salvo.
Di Salvo: “Our boys are just up for it”
The U21 coach himself also feels ready. Di Salvo’s contract, who is in close contact with the heavily criticized national coach Hansi Flick, was extended until 2025 shortly before the European Championship. A clear leap of faith for him. “I don’t feel any pressure,” said the former Bundesliga professional. “A tournament like this is always a highlight. There is great anticipation.”
Di Salvo conveys this attitude to his team. “Our boys are just in the mood,” said Captain Bisseck. “We have fun together and we all get along.” And then, at the start of the European Championship, the successful stories of the previous generations are buzzing around again – especially those of the U21 European champions in 2009 around Manuel Neuer, who became world champions in 2014. “If we win the European Championship this year and next year with the senior national team, that would be a dream,” said Moukoko, looking ahead to the European Championship at home.
The expected lineups:
Germany: 1 Atubolu – 2 Vagnoman, 5 Bisseck, 4 Dardai, 22 Netz – 10 Stiller, 8 Keitel, 6 Krauss – 9 Schade, 11 Moukoko, 17 Weißhaupt
Israel: 1 Peretz – 2 Jaber, 6 Gandelman, 5 Cohen, 7 Karzev, 3 Morgan – 22 Hajaj, 10 Gloukh, 15 Azoulay – 9 Jorno, 8 Bar
Referee: Willy Delajod (France)