Again and again Youssoufa Moukoko: With the next gala performance, the Borussia Dortmund attacker single-handedly led the U21s to their second victory in qualifying for the 2025 European Championship in Slovakia. In Sofia, the DFB team won 3-2 (1-1) against Bulgaria thanks to Moukoko’s hat-trick and took the top spot in Group D with six points.
Moukoko continued to increase his goal tally (40th/49th/69th) and now has eleven goals in nine U21 games. The 18-year-old had already scored twice in the qualifying opener against Kosovo (3-0). His BVB colleague Karim Adeyemi, who wanted to recommend himself to Julian Nagelsmann and the European Championships through the juniors, remained inconspicuous. Stanislaw Schopow had given the underdog the lead (25th). Nikola Iliev (90+3) scored shortly before the end.
“The boys are always looking for me in the penalty area, I get the balls I need. The striker has to score the goals, I did that today,” said Moukoko on “ProSieben Maxx”: “In the end it’s also about trust. The coach trusts me and I’ll give that back.”
The third qualifying match in Israel, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed by UEFA due to the Hamas terrorist attacks. The players will return to their clubs on Saturday.
In the absence of the ailing Eric Martel from Cologne, shooting star Maximilian Beier from TSG Hoffenheim was allowed to lead the DFB team onto the field as captain. “He deserves it. This is leadership through performance,” said coach Antonio Di Salvo before the game about the 20-year-old, who arrived with five goals this season and a lot of self-confidence.
U21: Bulgarians set the first pinprick
Unlike Adeyemi and Moukoko, who are currently only taking on a substitute role for the runner-up after Niclas Füllkrug was signed. With Beier and the BVB duo, the motto was clear: speed and goal threat. But the DFB selection struggled against the low-lying Bulgarians, who started with four points from two games.
Adeyemi was an asset – but he didn’t achieve much. The first shot on goal was more of a harmless return (12th), but he also committed many minor fouls, ball losses and an early yellow card for a scuffle (14th).
Bulgaria was waiting for a counterattack – and made the first pinprick: Schopov shot the ball into the corner from 15 meters. Germany struggled and equalized out of nowhere thanks to an individual effort from Moukoko.
The second goal of the storm jewel came with the kind help of Bulgaria keeper Plamen Andreev, whose harmless cross slipped through his braces. For the third goal, Moukoko was spot on after Ansgar Knauff’s lay-off.