The “showdown” in the European Championship qualification awaits the German U21s on Tuesday in Greece. Hopes rest on the accurate Nicoló Tresoldi.
The double packer from the Northern Ireland game is looking forward to the final for the European Championship ticket. “It’s almost like a knockout game”said the U21 national team’s top scorer before the big showdown with league leaders Greece: “I’m ready for Tuesday to score a few more goals.”
Another win is needed after the 3-0 win against Northern Ireland in order to be at the forefront of the fight for direct qualification for the finals next summer. And it even has to be a win by two goals to take top spot in Group F.
Only the nine group winners – and the best runner-up in the group – are guaranteed to take part in the tournament in Albania and Serbia. The eight other runners-up in the group will contest playoffs for four more European Championship places. Although there are three more games to play after the Greece game, Germany is the heavy favorite against Latvia, Malta and Georgia.
Painful October memories
A detour that the German team, which was painfully beaten 2-3 in the first leg, would like to avoid. “We are more well-rehearsed, we have good self-confidence”said Captain Tom Bishop: “I think we’ll beat the Greeks out of there.” The Bayern professional announced an attack appearance in Athens on Tuesday (6 p.m.). “Of course always. We are Germany”said the 20-year-old.
In the first leg, the German team was 0-2 behind after less than a quarter of an hour. After the successful comeback, a draw was ultimately given away. “We had a difficult phase back then”said U21 national coach Antonio Di Salvo, who had to deal with a major defensive bottleneck: “We are further along as a team now than we were in October.”
First El Mala goal in a hot-blooded atmosphere?
So far that a victory in the Leoforos Stadium is possible in the expected hot-blooded atmosphere? “I think there will be a wall for your team to push forward.”says Di Salvo. Greece’s association has announced the duel between the first and second in the group as a “top derby”. Tickets for the encounter are free. “Greece will attract a lot of spectators to the stadium, we are aware of that”said Di Salvo about the game in the 16,000-fan home of the traditional club Panathinaikos.
For Cologne’s season-promoter Said El Mala, the game would be the perfect time for his U21 debut goal. Players like Bishop, who has been tried and tested in the Champions League, also want to lead the way – and of course double goalscorer Tresoldi. “Of course it’s always nice to score for Germany”says the goalscorer from FC Brugge, for whom he recently scored seven times in seven league games.
Germany? Italy? Argentina? Exciting Tresoldi future
“I had a very good run in Bruges”said the 21-year-old after his two goals against the Northern Irish: “That’s why it’s very important that I keep going and score a few goals here too.”
The hits also put him in focus for higher tasks. National coach Julian Nagelsmann has not yet nominated the former Hanover professional. The son of a former Italian football professional and an Argentinean woman is also a candidate for other national teams.
But for now only Greece counts. “We have a duty to win this game. We want to be top of the table”Di Salvo summarizes again.
