U21-European: Germany loses final against England

Despite a rousing catch -up, the German U21 around the top scorer Nick Woltemade did not crown itself as a European champion. The selection of the German Football Association had to give up defending champion England in a gripping final with 2: 3 (2: 2, 1: 2) after extension.

The Mainz Nelson Weiper (45th+1 minute) and Paul Nebel (61st) had made the furiously fierce German team again after the sobering deficit for hope for the fourth DFB title. Harvey Elliott (5th) and Omari Hutchinson (24th) previously cheered for the Young Lions – and late Joker Jonathan Rowe (92nd) hit the thrill in extra time. The brave German team tried everything, was unlucky in a crossbar – but a new equalizer was no longer successful.

Exactly two years after the 0: 2 at the EM 2023 – curious against England – the German successful series ended with 20 games without defeat. After the titles of the generations around Manuel Neuer (2009), Serge Gnabry (2017) and Florian Wirtz (2021), the Woltemade year had to be satisfied with second place. The title of the top scorer after six tournament hits is not a consolation for the future Bayern star.

Before the eyes of national coach Julian Nagelsmann and England’s German national coach Thomas Tuchel, it looked early for the defending champion in the final in the Slovak capital Bratislava. Before Weiper’s hit the selection of U21 international Antonio di Salvo breathed new life.

The U21 by national coach Antonio di Salvo urged to equalize with new energy after the break – and was rewarded by Nebel’s dream goal in front of 19,153 spectators. In injury time he only hit the crossbar.

Woltemade, his possible switch to FC Bayern the day before the final in the “National Football Stadium” by Bratislava, gave a lot of vertebrae, was the linchpin in the German game. With gestures, words and tricks, he constantly cranked the offensive – but without goals or templates from him there was also no U21 title.

The season shooting star and new international was often sought and often found by the teammates-but always hard. The Stuttgart Cup winner attracted two or three opponents, which offered the colleagues freedom. Woltermades right behind the Deutsche Bank cheered when her son celebrated the equalization with the German team as a driver. In the end, the disappointment predominated.

Before Woltemade returned to the race for the European Championship title with his team, the second best goal scorer of the tournament, Liverpool star Elliot, set accents. The double goal scorer from the semi-finals shook the German title dreams early. During the lead goal, DFB goalkeeper Noah Atubolu was still able to ward off a ball to Hutchinson, who was more by chance, but the attempted clarification by Namdi Collins landed again at the Liverpool professional. The castle places 1-0.

Elliot initiated the second goal, Hutchinson continued to dampen the German title dreams as a scorer. England was then closer to the 3-0 than the DFB team, which acted without the injured defense chief Max Rosenfeld. ATUBOLU kept the DFB team repeatedly in the game with a gloss parade against England’s dangerous captain James Mcateee from Manchester City (40th).

Shortly before the break whistle, it was a Mainz duo that initiated the chase. After Nebel’s flank, Weiper headed into his fourth tournament gate. Pushed by the connection goal, the German team vigorously came out of the cabin.

The reward was the compensation for the DFB selection, which had not won 2-1 against England in the group phase. Nebel hit the right shot and also tore the German fans with his jubilee sprint. In the stands, Nagelsmann and Tuchel were now able to look forward to an exciting finale of this final – with the decision in the extension.