European Championship
Ngankam for Moukoko: U21 with a change against the Czech Republic
Jessic Ngankam starts at the U21 European Championship for Youssoufa Moukoko. photo
© Sebastian Kahnert/dpa
Youssoufa Moukoko was also the focus of attention at the under-21s’ European Championship opener because of a missed penalty. He then made racist insults against himself public. Now he is missing.
Germany’s U21 national team will have to do without star striker Youssoufa Moukoko in the second European Championship game against the Czech Republic. Coach Antonio Di Salvo brought on Jessic Ngankam from Hertha BSC for the 18-year-old on Sunday.
Moukoko is initially on the bench in the game (6:00 p.m. CEST/Sat.1.) in Batumi, Georgia. The Borussia Dortmund striker had already missed the final training session due to muscular problems. However, Di Salvo still assumed that Moukoko would be used.
Josha Vagnoman, who is also injured, is in the starting XI. In the other positions, too, Di Salvo left his initial formation unchanged compared to the 1-1 draw against Israel at the start of the European Championship. The selection of the German Football Association urgently needs a win against the Czech Republic in the fight for the quarterfinals and the Olympic ticket.
Moukoko and Ngankam each missed a penalty against Israel. Moukoko then made racist insults against himself and the Hertha attacker on social networks. Both players had received a lot of solidarity afterwards. The DFB had announced that it wanted to take legal action.