Football Championship: “The biggest game”: U21 wants final crowning against England

In the joy of the U21 finalists, tournament star Nick Woltemade animated his trainer to the short winning dance. After the surprisingly clear 3-0 in the European Championship semi-finals against France, the striker and his colleagues overjoyed on the lawn and loudly called the final location “Bratislava”. There, the selection of national coach Antonio di Salvo wants to follow a excessive title party after the final against England as a European champion.

“The main thing is that we win that thing”

“It is the biggest game that you can play in the national team dress in youth. We are very happy and it is something special for all of us,” said Woltemade. The 23-year-old was photographed for the third time with the trophy for the Man of the Match for the third time after the fourth EM use. Before the eyes of national coach Julian Nagelsmann, the new international wants to add another one on Saturday (9:00 p.m./SAT.1).

“Final victory, goal. Also enough for the final without a goal. I really don’t care. The main thing is that we win that thing,” said the Stuttgart Cup winner at Sat.1. For Di Salvo, Woltemade is “a formative figure of this European Championship” in Slovakia. Top scorer? Player of the tournament? “As I know Nick, the only goal he has to become a European champion and everything – which he then takes with him would be nice,” said his coach.

Völler: Hope that all of Germany keeps your fingers crossed

In the victory against France, Woltemade achieved his sixth European goal and initiated the leadership of Nelson Weiper. Brajan Gruda then finally made the duel praised by DFB sports director Rudi Völler as a “dream finale” with the defending champion. “I hope that all of Germany is keeping my fingers crossed at the weekend,” said Völler, who will follow the final alongside Nagelsmann. “I bunkered a card for him,” joked Völler.

Völler was happy about the next offensive glossy pieces. In the night of Thursday night, however, the DFB sports director emphasized the passionate defensive work against the French attackers around the former Bayern star Mathys Tel. And goalkeeper Noah Atubolu showed an impressive performance on his record day.

The new pest is the past

“We’re not finished yet. We still have a big goal,” said Atubolu. With its 21st commitment for the U21, the Freiburg left the goalkeeper icon Manuel Neuer behind. The 23-year-old leaned casually after the full-final plant at the chat with the family and with friends at the grandstand railing and was happy about a lot of praise. “He plays an outstanding European Championship,” said Di Salvo.

Neuer voted to become the U21 European champion with numerous 2014 world champions in 2009. The teams around Serge Gnabry (2017) and Florian Wirtz (2021) followed further European Championship titles. How ends the tournament for the ensemble around Woltemade and other Nagelsmann candidates? “You are now in the final and then logically also want to become a European champion,” said Völler. “I am particularly pleased for Toni di Salvo because he had a big disappointment two years ago. But we believed in him.”

Trainer raves: The troop leaves your heart on the pitch

Di Salvo failed in the preliminary round at his first European Championship as head coach. As an assistant coach of Stefan Kuntz, he previously had a decisive part in the successful era with the titles 2017 and 2021 and the final in 2019. Now he could celebrate his greatest success as a boss. “I am mega proud. The troop leaves her heart on the pitch,” said Di Salvo. The 46-year-old praised team spirit and empathy. “But in the end you can throw all of this into the bin when there is no quality – and the team simply has brutal quality.”

Di Salvo, whose contract was extended prematurely until after the final round 2027, has put a breathtaking success with this – also for Nagelsmann – exciting vintage. There were 17 wins in 20 unbeaten games. The last defeat was exactly two years ago on the final evening to the day; Curiously they also existed against England. Due to the 0: 2, Germany was eliminated on June 28, 2023 in the European Championship group phase.

After tears: title for the defense chief

Gesture di Salvo swore his young footballers on the final step and the last game of this hopeful generation. “We have now played 20 games with this year. So far, 20 games have been very successful, no defeat,” said Di Salvo. “Now we want to complete the 21 next Saturday.” They do not want to have the British about Liverpool star Harvey Elliott, who is second in the list of scorers behind Woltemade with four goals.

There was also tears in Kosice in the east of Slovakia. Defense chief Max Rosenfelder had to be replaced early and buried his dream of the final. “It makes me sad to see him cry. It hurts,” said Di Salvo. “Now we have to watch that we collect our strength and play a great final for Max – and win the final.”