Tom Bischof was completely satisfied. “We were afraid to play the ball forward,” said the captain after his unsuccessful U21 debut and the bitter 2:3 (0:2) defeat in Jena against Greece, which put the DFB team under pressure early in the European Championship qualification.
Such a setback was definitely not planned for the European vice-champion on the way to the 2027 finals in Serbia and Albania, where Olympic tickets for Los Angeles 2028 will also be at stake. “We can’t afford any more mistakes or slip-ups,” said coach Antonio Di Salvo, looking at the remaining eight games.
“I had warned about the Greeks. And yet it was up to us. We played a really bad first half. That can’t happen,” said Di Salvo: “We are very disappointed, we made too many easy mistakes. Nobody underestimated the opponent, I know that.” But one would have “already noticed that the structure, the experience and the self-confidence were missing”.
After the early one-two punch from Konstantinos Kostoulas (13th) and former Nuremberg player Stefanos Tzimas, who took advantage of a big shot from DFB keeper Dennis Seimen (SC Paderborn) (14th), he became loud during his half-time speech. At least his team “showed a different face” in the second half, said Di Salvo.
DFB selection against Northern Ireland under pressure
Hoffenheim’s Muhammed Damar (54th) and Tom Rothe (Union Berlin/59th) after a corner from Bischof brought the DFB team back. In Germany’s strongest phase, Said El Mala (1. FC Köln), who was substituted at half-time, turned up the heat, the DFB team had several good opportunities to take the lead, Nicoló Tresoldi (FC Bruges), for example, only scored that one Post (65th). “We should have closed the bag,” said Bayern young star Bischof – but in the end Dimitris Rallis (81st) made the guests cheer.
Greece is unblemished at the top of Group F after two games, Germany has to show a reaction against the unbeaten Northern Irish on Tuesday (6.30 p.m./ProSieben MAXX). “The second half was good. Now we have to get our heads back up, regenerate and make sure we win in Northern Ireland,” said Di Salvo. “We still have everything in our own hands and have a good team. Today we can be really angry – and then we have to learn from our mistakes.”
Bishop became more clear. The 20-year-old demanded that he and his teammates “have to be there from the first minute on Tuesday in Belfast and have the balls to play forward.”