For the newly formed German U21 national team, the long way to the European Championship 2027 begins in Rostock on Tuesday – and thus also for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“Our first goal is of course the group victory”says DFB coach Antonio di Salvo before starting the European Championship qualification against Latvia (8:30 p.m.): “A lot is new. We look forward to what is ahead of us.”
After the 2-0 test game against Albania, it is the first competitive game for the newly compiled team. Only one victory counts against the clear outsider Latvia. Other opponents in Group F are Georgia, Greece, Malta and Northern Ireland. “Of course we are the favorite, and we know that too. We are happy to accept this task. Nevertheless, a group that is very uncomfortable is”says Di Salvo.
It’s also about that Olympic participation
While the European Championship participation in Serbia and Albania is mandatory, the qualification for 2028 Olympics would be the freestyle. The tickets for Los Angeles are awarded at the European Championship finals. At the moment, however, this is a future music: it is currently not even clear how many starting places will be awarded to Europe at the Olympic finals in two years, after all, only twelve teams will take part in the Olympic men’s tournament in 2028.
Ten newcomers in the squad
In addition to the attackers Nicolo Tresoldi (FC Bruges) and Nelson Weiper (FSV Mainz 05), Brajan Gruda (Brighton & Hove Albion), Elias Baum (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Lukas Ullrich (Borussia Mönchengladbach) are there in addition to the attackers in June.
Ten players are in the squad for the first time – including the goalkeeper Mio Backhaus (Werder Bremen), Dennis Seimen (SC Paderborn) and Max Weiß (FC Burnley). “In the next two years, every player has the opportunity to bite off. But even for the players who are not there, there is still enough time to draw attention to themselves”says Di Salvo, who also has a new assistant coach at his side in Rio world champion Shkodran Mustafi.
For the new team, Di Salvo was only allowed to nominate players who were born on or after January 1, 2004.
Wanner and Moukoko are missing
Paul Wanner and Youssoufa Moukoko are not included. The defender Namdi Collins from Eintracht Frankfurt, who was also eligible to play, made it to the A national team.
Wanner, switched from Bayern Munich to PSV Eindhoven in summer “Not completely fit after his foot injury”explained Di Salvo. Di Salvo did without Moukoko, who last reached the Champions League with FC Copenhagen. The 20-year-old had last worn the DFB jersey in November 2024 and missed the European Championship in summer due to a lack of game practice.
“The mix of already experienced U21 players and new players is good”said di Salvo: “Now it is about quickly growing together and successfully starting the European Championship qualification.”
Debütants meet against Albania
In the first test game in Albania things went well. Even without an EM goalkeeper King Nick Woltemade, the quality in the attack is great. “There is nothing better for a trainer than to have many players who can score a goal”said Di Salvo after the successful restart. In the 2-0 win, Tresoldi and Weiper were in the starting eleven. After the break, the debutants of Ilyas saw from the 1st FC Union Berlin and Dzenan Pejcinovic from VfL Wolfsburg and they both scored one goal. “I’m happy when I have so much choice”said Di Salvo.
All of this arouses hope for new successes. “We shouldn’t put too much in our backpack now, but I think they already have the potential to step into the big footsteps”said DFB managing director Andreas Rettig.
The squad at a glance
Goal: Mio Backhaus (Werder Bremen), Dennis Seimen (SC Paderborn), Max Weiß (FC Burnley)
Defense: Elias Baum (Eintracht Frankfurt), Hendry Blank (Hannover 96), Linus Gechter (Hertha BSC), Finn Jeltsch (VfB Stuttgart), Leandro Morgalla (VfL Bochum), Joshua Quarhie (FC Southampton), Tom Rothe (Union Berlin), Lukasia Mönchengladbach)
Midfield: Noel Aseko Nkili (Hannover 96), Muhammed Damar (TSG Hoffenheim), Said El Mala (1. FC Köln), Brajan Gruda (Brighton & Hove Albion), Anton Kade, Mert Kömür (both FC Augsburg), Aljoscha Kemlein (Union Berlin), Umut Tohumcu (TSG Hoffenheim)
Storm: Ilyas view (Union Berlin), Dzenan Pejcinovic (VfL Wolfsburg), Nicolo Tresoldi (FC Bruges), Nelson Weiper (FSV Mainz 05)