78 percent possession, the entire second half of the game in the majority, 16:5 shots on goal, 31:1 crosses and two missed penalties – if fate wanted to humiliate the German U21 footballers on Thursday evening, then you have to say: They did a great job.
In their opening game of the European Championships in Kutaisi, Georgia, the U21s did not get more than a 1-1 (1-1) draw against Israel. Captain Yann Aurel Bisseck headed the equalizer in the 26th minute after being tricked by Israel’s 1-0 goalscorer Dor Turgeman six minutes earlier. “Of course we’re disappointed at first,” said the defender active for Aarhus GF, “but we mustn’t think about it too long because the next game is on Sunday, we have to win it and I’m not worried that we can pull it off. “
To this end, however, the dissatisfied team also has to process the unsightly background noise of this opening game, because center forward Youssoufa Moukoko from Borussia Dortmund, who missed the first two German penalties in the 3rd minute, reported racist comments in his social media after the game -Media channels. The unfortunate shooter of the second missed penalty, Hertha BSC’s Jessic Ngankam, was also insulted. Many of the comments could be seen on both players’ Instagram profiles. Central defender Bisseck had already been massively insulted on Facebook after his appointment as captain on Tuesday.
The two clubs and the German Football Association positioned themselves directly behind their two professionals, condemned the comments and backed the players. “We have your back, Jessic and Youssoufa!” Hertha said, while Borussia Dortmund wrote: “The Borussen family has your back, Youssoufa!”
The footballing combination of dominance and ineffectiveness started on Thursday evening with the first penalty kick in the 3rd minute, which Moukoko shot so poorly that Israel goalkeeper Daniel Peretz was able to easily parry it after choosing the right side. Ten minutes before the end, the German team got their second chance from the penalty spot, another penalty kick. This time Ngankam, who came on as a substitute seven minutes earlier, found the ball and fired a half-high on the right. Maybe a little better than Moukoko, but still weak enough for Peretz to save again after picking the correct corner. Kevin Schade from FC Brentford carelessly put the promising follow-up shot to the left of the goal.
It must be said that fate didn’t want to humiliate the German U21 footballers at all, it even gave them many chances to win, but they didn’t take them. Just before the break, Israel’s Eden Karzev was sent off with a yellow card. It was a tough decision. But the German team could not make a profit from the majority either. “The frustration runs deep,” said coach Antonio Di Salvo, “but we have to keep our heads up, we have to keep believing, we have to win against the Czech Republic on Sunday.”
Group opponents England are also a tournament favorite
Must, must, must – that can be a problem in a tournament that begins with a bitter disappointment. A win on Sunday evening (6 p.m., Sat1) in Batumi is now a must against the Czechs, who lost 2-0 to group favorites and title contenders England. A win against England at the end of Wednesday’s group stage is also possible, but the Brits play at a different level from Israel and the Czech Republic. The German team is now under ultimate pressure. Now it will be seen how well the young players can handle such a situation.
The coach Di Salvo will also explicitly address the insults against some of his players. “We are a community, we all like to play for Germany,” he said, “of course I’ll talk to the boys about it because I can imagine that the team will be concerned.”