National team
Adeyemi should “gather self-confidence” in the U21s
Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi has been nominated for the U21s. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa/archive image
The step back is intended to bring Karim Adeyemi forward. The young Dortmund professional is not part of the senior national team squad, but is expected to lead the way in the U21. A trio is back.
The U21s will face Bulgaria on October 13th in Sofia. Four days later the game against Israel takes place in Petah Tikva.
The 21-year-old Adeyemi, who was not convincing at BVB recently, can recommend himself for higher tasks with the U21. He has already appeared four times for the senior national team. “In close consultation with Julian Nagelsmann and BVB, we decided to nominate Karim for the U21,” said Di Salvo, according to the statement. “Karim didn’t hesitate for a second and immediately saw the opportunity to not only gain match practice and self-confidence with us, but also to take on responsibility and move forward.”
Di Salvo emphasized the “common goal” of “contributing to the success of the U21s with good performances and thus playing an important role again at Borussia Dortmund and in the senior national team as quickly as possible.”
Three European Championship returnees, two new ones
Noah Atubolu (SC Freiburg), Márton Dárdai (Hertha BSC) and Luca Netz (Borussia Mönchengladbach) return three players to the squad who took part in the U21 European Championships in Romania and Georgia in the summer.
New to the team are Julian Eitschberger (Hallescher FC) and Leandro Morgalla (RB Salzburg). For injury-related reasons, Di Salvo has to do without Linus Gechter (Hertha BSC), Eric Martel, Jan Thielmann (both 1. FC Köln) and Nelson Weiper (1. FSV Mainz 05). Just like Nicolò Tresoldi (Hannover 96, lack of training after illness).
In September, the German U21s started their European Championship qualification with a 3-0 win against Kosovo. The nine group winners and the three best runners-up will qualify for the final round, which will take place in Slovakia in 2025. The six remaining group runners-up will compete in playoffs to determine the final three participants.