The German U21 footballers remain on track in the European Championship qualification. In the 4:1 (1:0) on Friday evening (November 17th, 2023) in Paderborn against Estonia, coach Antonio Di Salvo’s selection celebrated their third win in the third game. Someone who wasn’t there caused trouble.
The goals for Germany were scored by Hoffenheim’s Maximilian Beier (39th minute), Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko (53rd) and Gladbach’s Rocco Reitz. He scored twice on his debut for the U21 team (88th/90th+4). In the meantime, Danil Kuraksin (64th) had shortened for Estonia.
Germany unlucky: Röhl hits the crossbar, Moukoko hits the post
Paderborn-born Di Salvo relied on full offensive power in his personal home game, as he did in the 3-0 win in Kosovo and 3-2 in Bulgaria with Moukoko, Beier and Ansgar Knauff. Captain Eric Martel returned to the starting line-up after his injury break, and alongside him the technically strong Brajan Gruda from Mainz made his starting debut.
The DFB selection took on the guests right from the start in icy temperatures just above freezing. Almost every minute the favorite missed their best chances, Merlin Röhl failed on the crossbar (9th), Moukoko on the post (12th). Only an individual effort from Beier, who simply shot from 20 meters, gave us the lead.
Di Salvo seemed tense, the pitch was becoming increasingly difficult to play on – the second goal was all the more important: Moukoko chased the ball into the corner, it was already his twelfth goal in the tenth U21 game.
The preliminary decision? No! Estonia scored the next goal out of nowhere on a counterattack after Mönchengladbacher Reitz, who had just been substituted, lost the ball. Germany had to tremble unnecessarily – but then Reitz made up for his mistake.
Neuendorf on Adeyemi: “A mistake”
There were discussions around the game involving Karim Adeyemi. Di Salvo nominated him, but Adeyemi didn’t come. Instead, the 21-year-old explained that he wanted to stay with his club Borussia Dortmund. That wasn’t well received everywhere.
Even DFB President Bernd Neuendorf was asked about Adeyemi’s absence when he gave an interview to the broadcaster “ProSiebenMaxx” during half-time. “I think it’s a mistake”said Neuendorf and referred to players like Florian Wirtz, who had recommended themselves for the senior national team through the U21.
Trend-setting Game against Poland
This gives the DFB team the chance to take an important step towards winning the group against Poland on Tuesday (November 21st, 2023). The Poles have played one more game and have twelve points.
The nine group winners and the three best runners-up will qualify for the final round, which will take place in Slovakia in 2025. The six remaining group runners-up will compete in playoffs to determine the final three participants.