Football European Championship: U21 is looking forward to new “cracks” – who does it like Wirtz?

The steps of the U21 national players seemed a bit clumsy after the European Championship straps when they rose the aircraft staircase in the semi-final town of Kosice. At the final examination before the final of the European Football Championship, the excess of strength should not stop the selection for tournament goalkeeper Nick Woltemade against France.

“We will be ready again and bring our quality to the square – and then we have a good chance of winning the game too,” said Woltemade as the greatest star of the tournament before the next “cracker”.

Woltemade discovers new virtue

The ninth European Championship semi-final of a German U21 should not be the final station in Slovakia on Wednesday (9:00 p.m./SAT.1) against France around the former Bayern star Mathys Tel. The difficulties against which the team around Woltemade had to fight in the 3-2 after extension against Italy even strengthened the confidence in the fourth title after 2009, 2017 and 2021.

“A game is always there. I hope that it stays and that we will win the others now,” said Gladbach leading player Rocco Reitz. Woltemade also pointed out a virtue rediscovered against the Italians: goals “a bit out of nowhere”. “This also distinguishes us to have the quality that we can score such goals and win such a game,” said the 23-year-old. The opponent in the final would be either the Netherlands or England in Bratislava on Saturday, which was conquered in group phase 2: 1.

Reitz, smiling and full of enthusiasm over the roller field in the semi-final town in East Slovakia, not far away from the Ukrainian border, while one or the other was still the tiredness of landing the day after the Italy match. The unnecessary extension with two men in excess against the Azzurrini was still in the bones. “I think we really have to use every second,” said Reitz about the regeneration countdown.

Even the day before the semi-finals, coach Antonio di Salvo was unable to predict the fitness state of all of his EM protagonists in detail. The 46-year-old sent his tournament team to the field three times in four games, and once he changed completely. Very possible that he combines the teams against the French around the Bundesliga defender Castello Lukeba from RB Leipzig and the captain Chrislain Matsima from FC Augsburg, sewn with six stitches on the lip.

Weiper? Röhl? How does di Salvo plan?

“It’s just a top nation that has incredibly good players. The width is just right, really good, but we are also good and we look forward to the game,” said Di Salvo. When asked about possible changes, he smiled. “I can do everything, I can do it and I can change.” A candidate for the starting eleven is the two -time scorer Nelson Weiper from FSV Mainz 05, who also hit Italy.

“I always worry about every player – and now after the extension much more,” said Di Salvo. The Freiburger Merlin Röhl as the winning goal scorer from the Italy would also be an option for the starting eleven if the “mouse-grade” captain Eric Martel (1. FC Köln), which is “mouse kiln), would not be fit.

Florian Wirtz was the last semi-final hero

The last time was a German U21 in the European Championship semi-final four years ago. At that time, thanks to the two -time goal scorer Florian Wirtz, the selection won 2-1 against the Netherlands – and later won the title. Before this generation, the teams around Manuel Neuer (2009) and Serge Gnabry (2017) celebrated as a European champion. “Our goal is Bratislava. A lot is possible with the team,” said Martel.

In the last game against each other, Germany and France separated 2-2 in November. Tel, goal scorer in the 3-2 of the French in the quarter -finals against Denmark, also met there. Overall, the balance against the U21 of the Grande Nation is negative. In two out of 14 duels, the DFB selection went as the winner, six times the winner was called France. In contrast, the semi-final record of German teams from West and East looks better. Only one of seven semi -final games was lost – in 2015 against Portugal.