U21 national team
Völler believes in a successful U21 European Championship – Gosens: Radiance
Sports director Rudi Völler answers journalists’ questions at a press conference. photo
© Jürgen Kessler/dpa
The German U21s travel to Georgia and Romania for the European Championship – DFB sporting director Rudi Völler sees good prospects for the defending champion. A Champions League finalist predicts a huge tournament.
DFB sports director Rudi Völler hopes that the German U21s will be successful in a summer that has so far been disappointing for the national team.
“Even if there were two or three injuries – the squad is good enough for us to play a decent and good role. Of course it’s difficult to say whether it will be enough for the title in the end,” said Völler in Frankfurt/Main . For the U21s, it was time to move from the training camp in South Tyrol to Georgia. The European Championships will take place there and in Romania from Wednesday to July 8th. Germany is the defending champion.
Defending the title is possible, said Champions League finalist Robin Gosens from Inter Milan. “An U21 European Championship has absolute appeal and I’m quite sure that the boys will play a huge tournament and that that will rub off on us and be motivating,” said the international. With a 3-3 win against Ukraine and a 1-0 loss against Poland a year before the European Championships at home, the senior national team was unable to brighten the mood.
Di Salvo: “Failures hit us hard”
Next Thursday, Germany will start the tournament against Israel. Other group opponents are the Czech Republic (June 25) and England (June 28). The most important German youth team is aiming to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Three teams qualify for it, England and France are not competitors.
“You don’t know the opponents as well as in the A-area,” said Völler. “Especially with U21 teams, a lot hasn’t worked out that well.” In addition, players from some teams would already appear in the respective senior national teams, which makes it difficult to assess. But a title defense is possible. He will travel to Georgia at the end of the week. “I look forward to it.”
The U21s have to do without Ansgar Knauff (Eintracht Frankfurt), Jordan Beyer (FC Burnley) and Jan Thielmann (1. FC Köln) after injuries in the training camp. Finn Ole Becker from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim was nominated at the weekend. Knauff broke his collarbone during the EM dress rehearsal on Friday. Beyer and Thielmann had already left.
“It hits us hard,” said U21 national coach Antonio Di Salvo. “We have to keep going. I’ve already told the team that we have to move closer together and we will do that.”