U21 national team
A freshman and some returnees for two U21 tests
Under-21 national coach Antonio Di Salvo has called up his squad for the two friendly games against France and England. photo
© Friso Gentsch/dpa
The German U21 national soccer team starts the European Championship season with a newcomer.
The German U21 national soccer team starts the European Championship season with a newcomer.
Head coach Antonio di Salvo nominated goalkeeper Christian Früchtl from Austria Wien for the 24-man squad for the first time, which played two friendlies on September 23 (6:15 p.m./ProSieben Maxx) in Magdeburg against France and on September 27 (8:45 p.m./ProSieben Maxx) against England in Sheffield. “Following our qualification, we are now starting the European Championship year and are looking forward to meeting two absolute top teams directly,” said Di Salvo, according to a statement from the German Football Association (DFB).
In Fredrik Jäkel (Arminia Bielefeld) and Reda Khadra (Sheffield United) there are two players who have been in the squad before but have not yet played. Armel Bella Kotchap from FC Southampton, who was called up to the senior national team by national coach Hansi Flick, will be absent. “He has had an excellent development over the past few months,” Di Salvo said of Bella Kotchap.
In addition, the head coach, in captain Jonathan Burkardt from Mainz 05 and Jonathan Vagnoman from VfB Stuttgart, has to do without two more pillars due to injuries. It’s a shame that some top performers are missing, said Di Salvo, “but that’s how other guys get their chance”.
After all, Noah Atubolu (SC Freiburg), Maximilian Bauer (FC Augsburg), Jordan Beyer (FC Burnley), Yannik Keitel (SC Freiburg) and Felix Nmecha (VfL Wolfsburg) are returning. You were last absent from the successful European Championship qualifiers against Hungary and Poland in June. The team meets in Wolfsburg on Sunday. The highlight of the season is the European Championships in Romania and Georgia from June 9th to July 2nd, 2023.