Active for Udinese & Milan
For two U21 national players, the last international match of the year will be an appearance in their adopted country. Attacking player Lazar Samardzic is in his second year at Udinese Calcio, while Malick Thiaw switched from FC Schalke 04 to Italian champions AC Milan last summer.
With Huseinbasic & Co.: The German U21 squad for the test in November
“It’s a special game for me to appear in the country where I’m currently playing. Some fans have written to me that they want to come and watch the game because of me. I have already learned the language. I feel very good and I’m ready for the game,” said 20-year-old Samardzic ahead of Saturday’s game. Samardzic is used in almost every game for Udinese, who started very well and who recently lost touch with the top of the table after seven games without a win, alternating between the starting XI and substitutions. He already scored three goals and one assist in Serie A in 2022/23 – most recently there was a market value increase of one million to 4.5 million euros.
Thiaw is not quite that far with his adaptation in Italy. “We’re here to prove ourselves again, to get better, to see what we need to improve and to see what further steps we’ve taken,” said the 21-year-old, who is getting on better and better in Milan . The central defender was substituted on twice, but was last in the starting XI against Florence (2-1) and Cremonese (0-0). Thiaw was praised above all for strong blocks from opposing shots in the final phase of the 2-1 win at Hellas Verona.
Under-21 coach Di Salvo says Malick Thiaw’s move to AC Milan is ‘very brave’
“I find the step he took to AC Milan very courageous,” said national coach Antonio Di Salvo. Of course he needed time to get used to it. “I think the last few games have shown that he can have his place and in the team,” he said. Thiaw acts more mature and mature, then you have a certain charisma as a defender. “Now I expect a player with this aura to show that in the form of taking the lead,” said Di Salvo. Italy enter with a comparatively inexperienced squad at Serie A level. Included are central defender Mattia Viti (20), who moved to Nice in the summer, Nicolò Rovella (20), loaned out by Juventus to AC Monza, and Chelsea’s 15 million transfer Cesare Casadei (19).
After the defeats against France (0:1) and England (1:3), the German selection definitely wants to celebrate a victory in the next sonorous duel. After that there is a long break. The next course for the German U21s will take place from March 19th to 29th, 2023. A training camp in South Tyrol will follow in the summer from June 10th to 18th. The EURO finals will take place in Georgia and Romania from June 21 to July 8. England, the Czech Republic and Israel are the group opponents there. Germany is the defending champion.
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