DFB-U21: 4 debutants around VfL Wolfsburg’s Felix Nmecha & Reda Khadra

European Champion Vagnoman back

After his brother Lukas, the Wolfsburg professional Felix Nmecha (21) is about to make his debut in the German U21 national team. The midfielder is one of a quartet of four debutants that coach Antonio Di Salvo called up for the first two internationals of the year on Thursday. In addition to Nmecha, Fürth’s Simon Asta (21), Reda Khadra (20) from Blackburn Rovers and Bochum’s Patrick Osterhage (22) were also called up for the first time.

For the most important German junior selection, the games against Latvia on March 25 in Aachen and four days later in Israel are about the ticket for the 2023 European Championship finals in Romania and Georgia. “Our clear goal is to qualify for the European Championship directly and as the first in the group. That’s why we want to build up a lead in the table again in the March internationals,” said Di Salvo. Despite a 4-0 loss to Poland in November, holders Germany lead their group with 15 points from six games (go to the table).

Nmecha, Khadra & Co. new: The U21 squad for the European Championship qualifier in March

Goal: Nico Mantl (Red Bull Salzburg)

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Goal: Luca Philipp (TSG Hoffenheim)

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Goal: Noah Atubolu (SC Freiburg)

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Defense: Noah Katterbach (FC Basel)

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Defense: Armel Bella Kotchap (VfL Bochum)

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Defense: Luca Netz (Bor. M’gladbach)

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Defense: Jordan Beyer (Borussia Monchengladbach)

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Defence: Malick Thiaw (Schalke 04)

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Defence: Simon Asta (Greuther Furth)

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Defense: Maximilian Bauer (Greuther Furth)

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Defence: Frederik Jakel (KV Oostende)

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Defense: Josha Vagnoman (HSV)

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Midfield/attack: Angelo Stiller (TSG Hoffenheim)

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Midfield/attack: Jonathan Burkardt (1.FSV Mainz 05)

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Midfield/attack: Ansgar Knauff (BVB)

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Midfield/attack: Eric Martel (Austria Vienna)

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Midfield/attack: Jan Thielmann (1. FC Köln)

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Midfield/Attack: Jamie Leweling (Greuther Fürth)

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Tom Krauss (1. FC Nuremberg)

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Midfield/attack: Erik Shuranov (1. FC Nuremberg)

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Midfield/attack: Kevin Schade (SC Freiburg)

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Midfield/attack: Malik Tillman (FC Bayern)

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Midfield/attack: Patrick Osterhage (VfL Bochum)

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Midfield/Attack: Reda Khadra (Blackburn Rovers)

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Midfield/attack: Felix Nmecha (VfL Wolfsburg)

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Di Salvo has to do without the injured Youssoufa Moukoko (17) from Dortmund and Yannick Keitel (22) from Freiburg in the two international matches. Some players like Hamburg’s Josha Vagnoman (21), who last played for the U21s in the European Championship triumph in June last year, are returning to the squad. The most valuable professional in the squad with a market value of 17 million euros is Jonathan Burkardt (21) from Mainz. “Due to the still sensitive pandemic situation, we have nominated a larger squad to be able to react to short-term absences,” said Di Salvo, who took over the post from Stefan Kuntz last year.

Felix Nmecha has been eligible to play for Germany since February. After a few appearances for the German U18s, like his brother Lukas, he initially played for the English youth national teams. Those responsible at the German Football Association (DFB) then convinced Nmecha to change associations again. His older brother Lukas became European champions with the U21s in 2021 and has already played two senior internationals.

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