The German U21 national team has qualified early for the final round of the 2025 European Football Championship.
After a 2-1 (1-1) win against Bulgaria, the DFB selection can no longer take first place in the group. Maximilian Beier (9th minute) and Nick Woltemade (66th) scored for Germany, who had to accept the equalizer in the meantime.
Woltemade misses penalties in training but scores in the game
“We didn’t get into the duels well. In the end it’s just a relief and a great feeling,” said Woltemade, who scored the winning goal with a penalty kick. He had previously missed two of two penalties in training, as he reported on “ProSieben Maxx”: “I told the boys: I’ll still shoot in the game.”
Maximilian Beier scores with a header to take the early lead
Coach Antonio Di Salvo’s team dominated the proceedings at the beginning and were enthusiastic about playing in the stadium of the second division team SSV Jahn Regensburg.
The supposedly reassuring lead came early, and it was achieved by a player who has had little success with his new club. Maximilian Beier, still without a goal or assist at Borussia Dortmund and with poor performances, headed the 1-0 in the ninth minute after a perfect cross from Mönchengladbach’s Rocco Reitz.
The Bulgarians, who lost the first leg 2-3, were harmless for a long time and could hardly be found on the offensive. After a standard situation, however, they had their first good chance to equalize after half an hour. Borislav Rupanov headed the ball from a free kick in the six-yard box, but the ball bounced off the back of Freiburg’s Max Rosenfelder.
Beier also initiates the equalizer
This action gave the guests more self-confidence. They attacked further forward and benefited from a bad pass from Beier before equalizing. Nikola Iliev was then released in the penalty area and scored from a tight angle to make it 1-1. In stoppage time in the first half, goalkeeper Noah Atubolu saved the German team, who had become increasingly passive, from falling behind at the break with an aerial save.
Tresoldi takes a penalty
Bulgaria initially kept the game open even after the break. Germany was still away from the level of performance seen in the early stages of the game. Only after an hour did it get more powerful and better again. Thanks to the penalty, which Stuttgart’s Woltemade safely converted, the German team took the lead again (66th). Nicolo Tresoldi from Hannover 96 had previously been fouled by goal scorer Rupanov.
Di Salvo’s team saved their lead over time and celebrated a victory that was more difficult than initially expected.
At the end of the qualification, the German team will compete in Poland on Tuesday (October 15, 2024). The Poles will finish the group in second place and therefore have the chance to qualify for next summer’s tournament in the playoffs.
England as Defending champion at the European Championships in Slovakia
The final round of the Euro 2025 will be held in Slovakia from June 11th to 28th with 16 teams. The draw for the four preliminary round groups will take place on December 3rd in Bratislava. The defending champions are England, who won 1-0 against Spain in the 2023 final.