EM final against England: Woltemade remains cool in the Bayern vertebra: Only the final counts

Nick Woltemade looked at the side of the Bayern vortex around him briefly. The UEFA spokesman had repeatedly emphasized that only questions about the U21 European Championship final were allowed between Germany and England this Saturday. But the press conference in Bratislava was checked. What would the headlines do with a possible change with him before the final, was Woltemade asked? What was it doing with him before the final that it was reported that he agreed with FC Bayern?

Woltemades “unique opportunity”

And what did Woltemade do? What distinguishes him in the European Championship days of Slovakia alongside top performance: he remained cool. Only once did he say something that had at least distinguished reference to the spectacular transfer topic that had burst into the final preparation of the U21: “There are always things that are around you not only affects me, but also other players.” Otherwise, he always stayed friendly, just repeated several times how much he was looking forward to this game: “This is a unique chance.” For reasons of age, it will be his last match with the U21.

Before that, Woltemade had not showed anything from the medial vertebrae. He wrote autographs or posed for photos with children on the team bus. For the 23-year-old and a promising German football generation, only one thing counts before the England final: the European championship title. This was also clear by his selection trainer Antonio di Salvo: “I take care of 23 players and the final, and I really don’t care about everything that is around it.”

“Very long trip” – with an impressive series

On Saturday (9:00 p.m./SAT.1) the last defeat of the U21 was exactly two years ago: On June 28, 2023, the European Championship preliminary round was 0: 2-against England. This was followed by 20 games without defeat. A “very long journey”, as Woltemade described.

Before the eyes of national coach Julian Nagelsmann, the selection of the German Football Association wants to take the last triumphal step – and the generations about Manuel Neuer (2009), Serge Gnabry (2017) and Florian Wirtz (2021) do the same. In addition, the U21 international can also position themselves in the Nagelsmann ensemble for a World Cup chance in the coming year. “He has one or the other on the piece,” revealed DFB sports director Rudi Völler.

Bayern vortex around Woltemade

Woltemade has already been promoted to A international in the Nations League. Due to his rapid promotion of the season and an outstanding European Championship with six goals and three honors to the player of the game, his market value continues to make up, the interest in the cup winner is huge.

Media speculate about a desired change this summer to Munich and a well -endowed five -year contract. Bayern are very benevolent about the storm giant. The Stuttgart people refer to the contract until 2028 and their plans. The poker by a replacement in the medium to high double-digit million range seems to begin.

Völler: “Many, many years later” revenge chance

Völler & Co. became world champion as U21 vice eight years later. The 2009 European champions about the later world champions Neuer, Jérôme Boateng or Mesut Özil followed as the epitome of a golden generation. The 2017 winners did not write a great national team story. Of the European Championship winners from 2021, DFB star Wirtz recently switched to Liverpool FC for a crazy.

“If you see who actually won the title at the time, whether it was now a new one or Hummels or what they are all called, then of course you already think so: Wow, okay, if they did it, and we can do it, then of course you can also make it onto the very big stage,” said the Cologne U21 captain Eric Martel. “Of course this is a giant transform for us.”

“Push” through Nagelsmann visit

However, the greed is even greater after the title in Bratislava. Especially when Nagelsmann watches the “National Football Stadium”. “It gives everyone a push,” said semi-final scorer Brajan Gruda from the Premier League Club Brighton & Hove Albion. “The final is a top game and we will all be completely pushed to the maximum anyway.”

Gruda and the Mönchengladbach marathon man Rocco Reitz were able to sniff in before the 2024 home European Championship. If the national coach is there, maybe “one or two or three percent more would be given again,” said Reitz before the “biggest game”.

Exciting personal details – also for the A team?

The U21 has something to offer in positions on which there have been personnel requirements in the A team in recent years. The Frankfurt full -back Nathaniel Brown and Namdi Collins advertise for themselves. Like the striking colleagues Nelson Weiper (Mainz) and Nicolo Tresoldi (soon Bruges). The Freiburg Noah Atubolu will play a role in a change of generation in the DFB goal.

In the group phase, the U21, which was changed to eleven positions, won 2-1 against England. The conclusions from the game: none. Only the certainty that another team will appear – again with the Woltemade, of course. “I think the coach should already know that he prefers to set me up,” joked the tournament star at Sat.1.