No goal against Kosovo: German U21 loses league lead in European Championship qualification

Germany’s U21 national team suffered a setback in the European Championship qualification – there was only a draw against Kosovo.

Due to the 0-0 draw on Friday (March 22nd, 2024) in the stadium on Gellertstrasse in Chemnitz, Germany lost the lead in Group D to Poland (15 points) with 13 points. However, Poland played one more game.

Only the nine group winners and the three best runners-up in the qualifying groups make it directly to the 2025 European Championship in Slovakia. The six worse runners-up in the group play in Playoffs three more participants. “It hurts a lot”said national coach Antonio Di Salvo on the channel ProSieben Maxx: “We certainly imagined something completely different. We wanted to start the year with a win, that’s very bitter.” On Tuesday, Germany will face Israel in Halle (Saale) at 6 p.m., Poland will play against Bulgaria at 3 p.m.

Too little made of the superiority

The team Di Salvo was clearly the better team in front of 6,899 spectators, but didn’t make enough of its superiority. As in the first leg (3-0), when it was 0-0 until the 74th minute, the German team was hardly dangerous, with Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko hanging in the air at the top. Also injured himself Colin Kleine-Bekel early on, the Holstein Kiel defender was only able to leave the pitch supported by the support staff.

Rettig criticized: “Playing too slowly”

Despite the great superiority, far too little success was achieved in the forward movement; semi-dangerous situations were more a product of chance than the result of our own creativity. “We’re not doing it particularly well, that’s unfortunate to say. We’re playing too slowly.”said DFB managing director Andreas Rettig during the break. Captain Eric Martel (1. FC Köln) criticized the team on the ARD microphone “no solutions found” have. The team would have its chances “need to make better use of it“.

Things got better in the second half and the chances increased. Jamil Siebert from Fortuna Düsseldorf was denied from a distance by Kosovo’s goalkeeper (57′), Merlin Röhl (SC Freiburg) shot over the goal from close range (59′), as did Moukoko shortly afterwards (64′).

In the final phase the game became a one-goal game, with Germany running more and more desperately. Substitute Nick Woltemade from Werder Bremen also failed (76th).